The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) welcomed the House committee approval of a bill seeking to make its Sustainable Livelihood Program a permanent government initiative, saying the measure would help ensure continued support for poor and vulnerable Filipinos trying to build stable sources of income.
DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the approval of the substitute bill by the House Committee on Social Services was a major step toward strengthening the legal and policy foundation of the program.
The measure, titled “An Act Institutionalizing the Department of Social Welfare and Development Sustainable Livelihood Program,” was approved during the committee’s regular meeting at the House of Representatives in Quezon City on Monday.
“Ang pag-apruba ng House Committee on Social Services sa substitute bill ay isang malaking hakbang para sa patuloy na pagpapalakas ng SLP. Kapag naisabatas po ang panukalang ito, magkakaroon ng mas matibay na policy at legal foundation ang programa,” Dumlao said.
She said the bill would help sustain the delivery of livelihood grants, skills training, capacity-building assistance, and other forms of support aimed at helping beneficiaries secure more stable sources of income.
The substitute bill consolidates House Bill Nos. 7699, 9026, and 9294, which all seek to institutionalize the SLP as a regular program of the DSWD.
The SLP provides livelihood assistance to poor, vulnerable, and marginalized individuals and communities through interventions designed to support employment, enterprise development, and economic self-sufficiency.
Dumlao said making the program permanent would protect its continuity and allow the government to expand livelihood opportunities for families in need.
The committee hearing was chaired by Davao Oriental 2nd District Rep. Cheeno Miguel Almario. It was also attended by Director Marife Leon of the SLP National Program Management Office, along with other program officials and personnel.
After its committee-level approval, the bill will be referred to the House Committee on Appropriations for fiscal review. It will then proceed to the Committee on Rules for scheduling of plenary deliberations before sponsorship, interpellation, amendments, and voting.
Dumlao expressed confidence that the measure would continue to gain support as it moves through the legislative process.
“Inaasahan po natin ang patuloy na pag-usad ng panukalang ito para mas mapalakas pa natin ang mga programa ng gobyerno na naglalayong wakasan ang kahirapan at palawakin ang mga oportunidad para sa bawat Pilipino,” she said.
The DSWD said the proposed institutionalization of the SLP is aligned with the Marcos administration’s poverty reduction agenda, particularly efforts to help Filipino families achieve economic resilience and self-sufficiency.