00:00Lola Mercy's two grandchildren often miss school.
00:05Her income from selling snacks isn't enough to cover their daily needs.
00:09But since joining the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps in 2023,
00:14life has become a little easier for Lola Mercy.
00:30The Department of Social Welfare and Development under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
00:37assured continuous support for 4-piece beneficiaries.
00:40More than 4 million members receive monthly government assistance,
00:44750 pesos for health subsidies, 600 pesos for rice,
00:49and 300 to 700 pesos in educational allowance for children.
00:53Kapag po hindi malulusog ang mga bata, nawawalan po sila ng oportunidad
00:58para magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan.
01:00Nakakaapekto ito sa kanilang pag-aaral at sa kanilang productivity.
01:05Kung kaya nga po, sabi ko, namumuhunan talaga tayo sa edukasyon at kalusugan.
01:10These efforts are part of the government's strategy to ease poverty and reduce the hunger rate.
01:15According to the latest Social Weather Station's poll,
01:18around 14.4 million Filipinos identified themselves as poor in March.
01:22Higher than in January and February.
01:25The hunger rate also rose to 27.2% in March, up from 21.2% in February.
01:32Despite this, the DSWD remains hopeful living conditions will improve this April and in the coming months.
01:39The agency is expanding its Walang Gutom project in Visayas and Mindanao.
01:44From just 1,000 beneficiaries in 2023, the program has now helped over 300,000 people,
01:51providing hot meals to the poorest families and street dwellers.
01:54More jobs and health services are also being rolled out under Bagong Pilipinas.
01:59It aims to provide decent work to those who have graduated from the four-piece program.
02:03The DSWD is also on standby for individuals affected by typhoons, disasters or crises.
02:10The agency provides up to 3,000 pesos in financial assistance through the assistance to individuals in crisis situation program.
02:18In terms of improving or reducing poverty incidents in our country and reducing hunger incidents,
02:28Marami po tayong mga na i-register na merong mga bagong trabaho.
02:34So, I think that matches na rin yung lumalabas na percentage na bumababa yung bill ng mga unemployed.
02:43So far, 700,000 families have exited or graduated from the four-piece program after improving their living conditions.
02:50Currently, the DSWD is reviewing whether to increase the financial aid for current four-piece members
02:56and reassessing if the current amount still meets their needs.
03:00Charm Zespina from PTV Manila for Balitang Pambansa.
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