The proposed measure of 1PACMAN Party-list Rep. Mikee Romero which aims to include adult beneficiaries in the coverage of  the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program reaped praises from officers and members of the Parent-Teacher United Advocates Association of the Philippines Inc.

“We are happy for the support of Rep. Romero to the program that along the way would benefit not only the indigent students but also their parents,” PTUAAP Inc. national president Ray Rivamonte said.

According to Romero, the Expanded Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program act is aimed at providing more sustainable government intercession in the fight against poverty.

“The proposed measure intends to amend Republic Act No. 11310, an Act institutionalizing the 4Ps, to provide opportunities to adult household members by supporting their education, entrepreneurship and employment training,” Romero said.

Under the measure, interventions to assist 4Ps adult beneficiaries should have three tracks – the Entrepreneurship Track; the Employment Track; and the Alternative Learning System Track.

At least one adult beneficiary must join and complete any of the said tracks.

“The PTUAAP Inc. is hoping that more lawmakers would follow the move of Rep. Romero and take the initiative to create measures benefitting the  teachers and also the parents of students to give them the opportunity to finish their studies,” said Anthony Mateo,  the group’s national executive vice president.

Romero added that under the expanded 4Ps, concerned government agencies would be assisting the adult beneficiaries who successfully completed their specific tracks.

Those who completed the Entrepreneurship Track shall be given assistance by the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure the ease in establishing a micro or small business and link him/her to a target clientele.

Those who finish the Employment Track shall be given job facilitation assistance by the Department of Labor and Employment, while those who completed non-formal education through ALS Track by the Department of Education until they finish Senior High School shall be given assistance to ensure their pursuit of higher learning or employment.

Under the current program, 4Ps provides conditional cash grants to qualified indigent families to improve their health, nutrition, and the education of their children aged 0-18.

As of 30 September 2022, 4Ps covers a total of 4,285,531 household beneficiaries across 41,676 barangays in the country.