Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HouSEBILLNo.    10388
Introduced by 4Ps Partylist Representative
|C M. ABALOS
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is the government's flagship
poverty reduction initiative. Studies by the World Bank and the Philippine Institute
for  Development  Studies   (PIDS)   underscore  its  pivotal  role  in  enhancing  the
socioeconomic well-being of beneficiary households and its significant contributions
to nationwide poverty alleviation. Furthermore, the Department of Social Welfare
and  Development  (DSWD)  report  in  2020  noted  positive  outcomes,  including
improved  child  nutrition  and  education,  enhanced  access  to  maternal  and  child
health services, and sustained high levels of school enrolment and attendance among
early participants.
However,   despite  these   positive  results,  the  battle  to  eradicate  poverty
remains challenging. The latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (rsA)
reveals a minimal decline in poverty rate from 23.7 percent in the first half of 2021 to
22.4  percent  in  the  same  period  in  2023.  Given  that  rate,  the  number  of  4Ps
household   beneficiaries   is   still   high  at  4,177,368  in  the  first  quarter  of  2024.
Consequently, the caseload still averages 800 households per City/Municipal Link,
which is well above the ideal ratio of 1:300.
For the success of the country's poverty program initiative to continue, it is
then imperative to fortfty its effective implementation. One current method in place
is  engaging  Parent Groups  and  Parent  Leaders  to work with the Department of
Social  Welfare  and  Development  (DSWD)  and  the  City/Municipal  Links.  Parent
Leaders   serve   as  crucial  intermediaries  between  program  administrators  and


beneficiaries within their respective communities. Their grassroots connections and
intimate  understanding  of  local  dynamics  enable  them  to  foster  tnist,  facilitate
communication, and amplify community voices.
Recognizing  the  value  of  this dynamic, the bill endeavors to optimize the
involvement of Parent Leaders by establishing their roles and responsibilities and
providing them with allowances to support the performance of their functions such
as  conducting  meetings,  updating  beneficiary  profiles,  and  organizing  monthly
family development sessions. Additionally, the measure underscores the significance
of   providing   parent   leaders   with   structured   training,   knowledge   and   skill
enhancement, and other educational opportunities to help in carrying out their tasks.
The  bill  also  emphasizes  the  critical  importance  of  Parent  Groups  as  registered
organizations or associations.
Acknowledging   the   pressing   need   for   City/Municipal   Links   to   have
additional  support,  the  engagement  of  parent  leaders  emerges  as  a  strategic
approach    to    bridge     the     gap    in    the    development    worker    and    4Ps
household-beneficiaries ratio to ensure more efficient and personalized assistance to
beneficiaries and, ultimately, success in our fight to reduce poverty.
In light of the above, the passage of this measure is earnestly sought.


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE 0F REPRESENTATIVES
Batasan Hills, Quezon City
NINETEENTH CONGRESS
Second Regular Session
HousEBILLNo.   10388
Introduced by 4Ps Partylist Representative
]C M. ABALOS
AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATI0N 0F THE
PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPIN0 PROGRAM (4Ps) THROUGH PARENT
LEADERS ENGAGEMENT, AND PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Riepresentatives of the Philippine Congress
assembled..
SECTION 1.   SJiorf Ti.£Ze. - This Act shall be known as the ``4Ps P#re7i£ Lc¢ders
Act,,.
SEC.  2.  Dealflr#fe.o7i  a/ Pozi.ey.  -  The  State  shall  promote  a just and dynamic
social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free
the  people  from  poverty  through  policies  that  provide  adequate  social  services,
promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life
for all.
Towards    this    end,    the    State    shall    implement   measures    to    break
intergenerational    poverty   through   investments   in   human   capital   and   the
enhancement   of   basic   service   delivery   to   impoverished   sectors,   particularly
bolstering education, healthcare, nutrition, and comprehensive childhood care and
development programs.


SEC. 3. Dcj7ii.fr.o7i a/Terms. -As used in this Act:
(a) Pflrle7cf  Gro#p  refers  to  a  cluster  of  20  to  40  parents,  each  member
representing  an  active  4Ps  household  beneficiary  within  an  area  or
community   and   are   members   of   an   organization   or  association
recognized   and   duly   registered   by   the  Securities   and  Exchange
Commission  (SEC),  Department  of  Social  Welfare and Development
(DSWD), or any appropriate government registration agency.
(b) P¢rc#f  Lcflder  refers  to  an  elected  member  of  a  Parent  Group,  or
selected by the City/Municipal Link based on a set of criteria in cases
where an election among the Parent Group members is impracticable,
who  shall serve as a point person or community leader of a Parent
Group for a prescribed term of service.
(c) Asst.sto#f  Pflrt"f  Leflder  refers  to  an  elected  member  of  a  Parent
Group,  or  selected  by  the  City/Municipal  Link  based  on  a  set  of
criteria in cases where an election among the Parent Group members is
impracticable, who shall assist a Parent Leader of a Parent Group for a
prescribed term of service.
SEC. 4.  CozJcrngc. - This Act shall cover Parent Leaders elected or selected to
represent their Parent Groups to directly and primarily engage in providing support
services   to   beneficiaries   of  Republic   Act  No.  11310,  otherwise  known  as  the
``Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act''.
The DSWD is hereby mandated as the lead agency in the implementation of
this Act. The DSWD shall formulate a guideline of requirements and criteria in the
election and selection of one (1) Parent Leader and one (1) Assistant Parent Leader
from each duly recognized Parent Group to perform functions that shall strengthen
the effective implementation of the 4Ps Act.
SEC. 5. Functions. -
(a) A Parent Leader shall assist a City/Municipal Link in the performance
of the following:
1.   Maintain    and    monitor    City/Municipal    caseload    of   4Ps
beneficiaries;
2.   Facilitate the conduct of community development activities, in
coordination     with     the     City/Municipal     Social     Welfare
Development   Office   and   other   key   stakeholders,   of   4Ps
beneficiaries;
3.   Facilitate,  review,  and  monitor  submission  of complaints  and
grievances of 4Ps beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries;


4.   Conduct  Social  Welfare  and  Development  Indicators  (SWDI)
enumeration and validation;
5.   Conduct  interviews,  home  visits,  field  visitation,  counseling,
and case management of 4Ps household beneficiaries;
6.   Validation of target household beneficiaries;
7.   Monitor    compliance    to    program    conditionalities    of   4Ps
beneficiaries;
8.   Monitor the eligibility of 4Ps beneficiaries; and
9.   Conduct information dissemination.
(b) An Assistant Parent Leader shall lend support to a Parent Leader in the
performance of their duties, and assume the role of a substitute when a
Parent Leader is unable to perform their functions.
SEC.   6.  AJZoz{J¢7taes.  -  Parent  Leaders  and  Assistant  Parent  Leaders  shall
receive a monthly allowance of Five hundred pesos (Php500.00) to use for incidental
expenses related to the performance of their tasks. The prescribed amount under this
Act  shall  be  adjusted  upon  the  review  and  recommendation  of  the  National
Advisory Council (NAC) of the 4Ps Act.
SEC.  7.  £„Jzfl7iaeffle7'i£  Progrfl771.  -  The  DSWD  shall  provide  for  a  system  of
continuing education and skills, training, and knowledge enhancement programs for
Parent Leaders and Assistant Parent Leaders.
SEC. 8. App7iapr!.¢£z.o7ts.  - The amount needed for the implementation of this
Act shall be charged to the current year's appropriations of the DSWD. Thereafter,
the appropriation necessary for the implementation of this Act shall be included in
the annual General Appropriations Act (GAA).
SEC. 9. Implementing Rules and Regulations. - Within sixty (60) days frorr\ the
effectivity of this Act, the DSWD, in coordination with CHED, SEC, Department of
Education   (DepEd),   Technical   Education   and   Skills   Development   Authority
(TESDA),  Department  of  Labor  and  Employment  (DOLE),  and  other  pertinent
government agencies and stakeholders, shall formulate the rules and regulations to
comprehensively implement the provisions of this Act.
SEC.  10.  Sap¢r#bi.Ji.fry  a¢"se.  -  If for any  reason  or reasons,  any  portion  or
provision of this Act is held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining portions or
provisions not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.


SEC. 11. Rapcflzz.7ig a#wsc. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, proclamations,
rules, regulations, and other issuances or parts thereof which are inconsistent with
the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed, amended, or modified accordingly.
SEC.  12.  E#gcfz.zJz.fry.  -  The  Act  shall  take  effect  fifteen  (15)  days  after  its
publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2) newspapers of general circulation or
a newspaper of general circulation.
Approved,