Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian defended the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) against what he described as misleading online claims, emphasizing that the government’s flagship anti-poverty initiative is designed to help poor Filipino families become self-sufficient and eventually rise out of poverty.
Speaking on the Bilyonaryo News Channel program “Unpopular Opinion” aired Wednesday, Gatchalian refuted viral social media posts claiming that 4Ps beneficiaries receive free air conditioners and fully subsidized electricity bills from the government.
“Hindi totoo na nagbibigay ang 4Ps ng aircon. Hindi rin totoo na binabayaran natin ang kuryente nilang lahat,” Gatchalian said.
The DSWD chief clarified that while some low-income households benefit from lifeline electricity rates, only a small fraction of power consumers nationwide actually receive the subsidy.
He noted that out of around 20 million electricity consumers in the country, only about 135,000 avail of lifeline rates, with the average contribution from consumers amounting to only a few centavos.
Gatchalian also criticized Meralco over what he described as misleading narratives surrounding electricity subsidies, saying rising generation costs had a far greater effect on household power bills.
“Hindi sila ang dahilan kung bakit tumaas ang presyo ng electric bills. Tumaas ang generation cost,” he said.
Beyond financial aid, Gatchalian stressed that the 4Ps should be viewed as a long-term investment in education, opportunity, and nation-building.
“This is an investment. Namumuhunan tayo sa kinabukasan ng ating bansa,” he said.
The DSWD secretary pointed to the success stories of former 4Ps beneficiaries, including a recent topnotcher in the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), whom he described as a former 4Ps child who earned the highest score in the exam’s history.
“Ganyan yung klase ng pinupuhunan natin. Dekalidad na edukasyon para sa bawat batang Pilipino,” he said.
Gatchalian also said the Marcos administration has tightened program implementation and strengthened case management systems to help more families eventually “graduate” from poverty.
According to the DSWD, the number of active 4Ps beneficiary families has gone down from 4.4 million to around 3 million as poverty incidence declined and more households became financially stable enough to exit the program.
The department has also partnered with Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to help beneficiaries pursue skills-based employment opportunities, particularly graduates of the K-12 Technical-Vocational Livelihood track.
Gatchalian said the initiative aims to help young beneficiaries gain certifications, secure jobs, and eventually continue higher education.
The 4Ps remains the national government’s flagship poverty alleviation and human capital development program under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., with a focus on education, healthcare, livelihood, and long-term economic resilience for vulnerable Filipino families.