Gov't urged to overhaul anti-poverty program

Sen. Erwin Tulfo is calling for a major overhaul of the government's flagship anti-poverty program, recommending the eventual scrapping of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in favor of providing livelihood capital to low-income families.

- By NEIL JAYSON SERVALLOS

Tulfo, who chairs the Senate committee on social justice, welfare and rural development, said instead of handing out monthly cash transfers, the government should help poor households start small businesses that can generate sustainable income.

"Even some 4Ps members themselves, they would rather have livelihood capital instead of monthly cash transfers," he said, citing conversations he had with beneficiaries during his brief stint as social welfare secretary in 2022.