CEBU, Philippines — The Regional Development Council has approved the recommendation to request the National Advisory Council for the Pantawid Pampamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Oversight Committee to study the need for remedial legislation or executive measures providing penalties for individuals and corporate entities that will accept 4Ps cash cards as loan collaterals.
During the First Quarter 2022 Regional Development Council Full Council Meeting yesterday, the council agreed that this is tantamount to pawning or giving the 4Ps ID, card and/or oath of commitment to a loan financier or loan shark as collateral or security for money borrowed or credit on items or goods.
“If unchecked, the pawning of cash cards will adversely affect the achievement of the program goal of improving the health, education and nutrition aspects of the lives of beneficiaries,” the approved recommendation read.
It added that while there are sanctions for household beneficiaries that were found to have used their cash cards inappropriately, there are no laws, policies or sanctions against individual/organizations who accept cash cards as loan collaterals.
It further said that Section 59 of the IRR provides for the establishment of the 4Ps Oversight Committee to set the overall framework to review the implementation of the Act.
The committee is also tasked to determine inherent weaknesses in the law and recommend necessary remedial legislation or executive measures.
The 4Ps is a national government program that invests in the human capital of poor households. It was implemented through DSWD and was institutionalized in 2019 by virtue of Republic Act (RA) 11310.
It has become the national poverty reduction strategy of the government that provides cash grants to improve the health, nutrition, and education aspects of their lives.
The households are given cash grants in exchange for their compliance with the program's conditions.
Recommendations
Meanwhile, the outgoing officials of RDC headed by chairperson Kenneth Cobonpue has recommended, among others, to the next RDC-7 leadership to secure the approval of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council of the Typhoon Odette Rehabilitation and Recovery Program and commitment to its funding support, to fast-track the approval of the request for the increase in costs of yhe following projects already approved by the National Economic Development Authority Board-Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA Board-ICC) like the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit and the New Cebu International Container Port.
They also recommended to fast-track the approval by the NEDA-Board ICC of the unsolicited proposal for the operations and maintenance and expansion of the Bohol-Panglao International Airport, Metro Cebu Expressway, Metro Cebu Cicumferential Road, and sustainable inclusive and resilient tourism projects and Solar Powered Festivation Project.
The council also recommended for the next RDC officers to pursue the implementation/completion of the new Dumaguete Airport Development Project, Tagbilaran-Panglao, Bohol Offshore Bridge Connector, Mandaue-Lapulapu 4th Bridge and Coastal Road Project and Metro Cebu Flood Control Project. – JMD (FREEMAN)