DSWD, DA to bolster livelihood programs for farmers

Two government agencies are looking at ways to strengthen livelihood programs for farmers to support the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and provide better outcomes for beneficiaries. (PNA photo)

MANILA — Two government agencies are looking at ways to strengthen livelihood programs for farmers to support the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and provide better outcomes for beneficiaries.

Acting Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Virgina Orogo made this remark in response to the earlier proposal of Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Emmanuel “Manny” Piñol to convert the PHP70 billion 4Ps budget into livelihood funds to help the agriculture sector.

Piñol claimed that the 4Ps steered the poor from seeking agriculture jobs and instead made them reliant on the monthly assistance they received from the government.

Orogo, however, clarified that the 4Ps scheme is meant to compliment farmers’ livelihood programs and not simply serve as a dole out.

“Nag-usap po kami ni Secretary Piñol. Ang pag-uusap po namin actually ay iyong malaking bahagi po ngayon ng aming ginagawa ngayon ay ayusin ‘no, paano iyong gagawin natin na iyong pangkabuhayan ‘no ng mga mahihirap natin ay mapaunlad ‘no (I have spoken with Secretary Piñol. Our discussion involved how we can strengthen the livelihood of the poor for better outcomes),” Orogo said in a Palace briefing.

Orogo pointed out that 51 percent of 4Ps beneficiaries are farmers and that scrapping the DSWD cash aid program would be a disadvantage to the farmers who are part of the 4.4 million poor Filipinos who depend on the assistance.

Instead of scrapping the 4Ps, Orogo said that it is better to identify ways to create more sustainable livelihood programs for the farmers.

“Ang 4Ps po karamihan diyan ay — 51 percent ay magsasaka, okay, at nagkakaroon po ngayon ng pag-aaral between us and Department of Agriculture ‘no; at even iyong Department of Agrarian Reform ‘no dahil may mga package din sila for farmers ‘no to support iyong pangkabuhayan ng magsasaka (51 percent of 4Ps beneficiaries are farmers and we have conducted a study with the Department of Agriculture and Department of Agrarian Reform since there are packages to support the livelihood of farmers),” Orogo said.

“Mayroon pa po kaming mas malawakang pag-uusap dahil nga sa mga — tiningnan namin iyong mas pangmatagalan ‘no at pangsustinableng pangkabuhayan ng mga magsasaka at iyong mga urban poor natin (We will have more extensive talks because we are looking at more sustainable livelihood programs for our farmers and the urban poor),” she added.

Under the 4Ps’ conditional cash transfer (CCT), a typical household receives PHP2,600 a month to fulfill conditionalities of 85 percent school attendance.

The household is also provided with health care services but members should regularly attend family development sessions.