Lawmakers at the House of Representatives approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 8647 or the proposed Patuloy ang Pagtawid sa Pamilyang Pilipino Act, which seeks to amend Republic Act No. 11310 (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act), the government’s flagship anti-poverty initiative, and widen the scope, benefits, and implementation of the conditional cash transfer program.
The bill was approved with a 224–3 vote and no abstentions.
The reform effectively expands the 4Ps by increasing program coverage, enhancing financial assistance, and improving delivery systems for beneficiaries. It also aims to ensure that support keeps pace with inflation and the evolving needs of low-income households, particularly in access to food, education, and healthcare, and make social protection more responsive to rising economic pressures.
Under the strengthened framework, more poor and near-poor families may be included in the program, while existing beneficiaries are expected to receive improved and more consistent assistance. The measure also pushes for better targeting and monitoring systems so aid reaches households that need it most, while reinforcing education and health conditions tied to the program.
House Speaker Faustino Bodjie Dy III said the goal is not to replace the program but to improve it, emphasizing that government support must adapt as families continue to face economic challenges.
He said the expanded 4Ps is designed to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty by ensuring sustained investments in children’s education and family health, which are central conditions of the program.
The Speaker also highlighted that the measure is part of the priority agenda of the Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council (LEDAC), underscoring its alignment with broader efforts to strengthen social protection systems nationwide.
Once enacted, the revised law is expected to reinforce 4Ps as a long-term human capital investment program, ensuring that families are not only given immediate relief but also greater opportunities to improve their quality of life.
Lawmakers said the expansion reflects a continued commitment to inclusive growth, positioning the 4Ps not merely as financial assistance but as a structured pathway out of poverty through education, health, and sustained government support.