SENATOR  Risa Hontiveros has urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development to review the cash grants provided to youth beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), citing inflation’s impact on the program’s effectiveness.

During the Senate Finance Subcommittee D hearing, Hontiveros noted that in 2019, 4Ps youth beneficiaries received an annual grant of ₱31,000.

However, with rising prices, its value has effectively dropped to only ₱14,000 as of two years ago.

“Many young students who should be in high school are already working and earning ₱4,500 to ₱6,000 monthly. Because of life’s hardships, young people would rather choose to work than stay in school,” Hontiveros said.

She then asked Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian whether the agency had conducted any analytical study to determine if the current cash grants remain sufficient to keep youth beneficiaries from dropping out of school to work.

“What is the basis for DSWD to say that the cash grants are sufficient, and what is your recommended amount to catch up on losses due to inflation?” Hontiveros pressed.

In response, Gatchalian admitted that the DSWD is preparing to revisit the 4Ps cash grants, acknowledging that the current support is no longer adequate to meet the needs of youth beneficiaries.

The 4Ps program provides conditional cash transfers to poor families to improve health, nutrition, and education, but lawmakers warn that stagnant cash grants risk undermining its goal of keeping children in school.