Malacañang on Tuesday said the government could “free up” P15 billion in its revision of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary list.
The 4Ps program provides financial assistance amounting to up to P5,000 a month to families considered “poor.”
The cash grants under the program are conditional and will only be disbursed if beneficiaries continue to meet requirements.
Press Secretary Trixie Cruz-Angeles said Social Welfare Erwin Tulfo had declared that at least 1.3 million of the 4.4 million 4Ps beneficiaries were no longer considered “poor” and no longer eligible for 4Ps benefits.
“This frees up P15B for other qualified persons to replace them and now be included in the said program,” she said.
Tulfo earlier said the “cleansing” of the 4Ps list was ongoing.
Beneficiaries of cash assistance under 4Ps are selected through the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction, which Tulfo said had eliminated 1.3 million families from its “poor” list. John Ezekiel J. Hirro