THE Department of Agriculture (DA) wants to convert the P70-billion Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) into a livelihood funding assistance instead of a cash dole-out to help improve the farm sector.
Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel F. Piñol said the 4Ps is a “questionable” social program as it “reduces” poor families to “a level of waiting for money from the government” instead of making them productive.
“I’m the most vocal critic of this program of the government. [It] is spending P70 billion annually [for 4Ps], which is bigger than the budget of the DA,” Pinol told the Agriculture Trade and Investment Forum at a hotel on Thursday.
“In fact, what I am saying is the 4Ps could actually be another program that could contribute to agricultural productivity if used properly. Instead of giving in forms dole-out every month, why don’t we start a livelihood program using that money?” Pinol added.
Pinol said he has received reports that the 4Ps had resulted in the declining number of workers in the rural areas, particularly in the agriculture sector.
“People are not working anymore, and they are just waiting for their allowances,” he said in an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the forum. “In fact, for years the 4Ps did not result in anything. Worse, the work force in the agriculture sector has been reduced because of it,” he added.
The DA chief has pitched his proposal many times in previous Cabinet meetings, and claimed “a lot” of Cabinet members back his idea, but did not disclose their names.
He plans to submit a memorandum to the President with his proposal, at the next Cabinet meeting in June.
“The gist of my proposal is that we should make use of the 4Ps fund for livelihood activities to increase greater food productivity,” he said.
He has in mind “food production like vegetable growing or backyard poultry growing.” However, the mechanisms and guidelines for the proposal shall be determined once it is approved.
Labor employment in the farm sector declined for the sixth straight year in 2017, sinking to a seven-year low of 10.257 million, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed. This was also the first time in 15 years that employment in agriculture fell below 11 million.
Image credits: PNA
7 comments
Just to inform u. Ang bigayan ng allowance sa 4ps ay every 2 mo.. Sa tingin nyo makakapag hintay ang pinoy ng every 2 mo para sa allowance na sinasabi mo… Instead ang tao mag wowork parin .. Magkano lang ba nakukuha jan ei almost 4000 pa and worst minsan kulang pa..yan nakukuha na yan kulang pa sa bayaran ng mga pinoy na nagkakautang… Pinagiinitan nyo 4 ps
This is so true. Nowadays its hard to get a kasambahay because for them they receive money fr 4ps. They dont want to work anymore. Tong-its tong-its na lang and wait till their allowance fr 4 ps come. Are we going to tolerate this kind? Better if the budget can be used for agricultural productivity. Banat buto rin naman.
Kaloka.. isa po akong vegetable farmer na 4ps beneficiary. Nagbabanat buto para makaahon sa buhay. In our place..90% of us(wives) are working, nagbubuhat ng fertilizers, we even carry knapsack sprayer w/ capacity of 25liters and spray our plants. Nagtatrabaho kami 10-12hours a day. .. After 3-4 mos na pag aalaga sa gulay.. hayyy.. Subrang mura ng gulay..ang womboc 4-6. E haharvest pa ba.. e ang transportation ng gulay ay 3-4pesos/kl..Paano na ang expenses sa fertilizers at pesticides, pagod at panahon. Tulungan nyo naman kami sir piñol gawan nyo ng paraan para tumaas naman ng kunti presyo ng gulay para naman hnd kami mabaon sa utang.
The 4Ps program may have good intentions. Problem is lack of control that is why this is prone to abuse; abuse by ‘some’ beneficiaries and abuse by LGUs using the program for their own political agenda. There needs to be a better control on process, from choosing the RIGHT beneficiaries up to regularly checking if the beneficiaries are still using the funds as intended. Otherwise, replace the program which will ensure beneficiaries learn and be capable of living without these allowances. “Don’t just give them fish to feed; teach them how to fish”
“Give them fish and you feed them for a day.. but if you teach them how to fish, you’ll feed them for the rest of their lives.”
Livelihood program is a much better alternative. At least they will learn how to appreciate the value of hard earned money.
i think the goverment must consider this…doon po tau sa mga may kabuluhang aksyon…4ps is waste of money,
i think the goverment must pay attention of this…