The passage of an amendatory measure is being eyed by House Majority Leader Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Sandro Marcos to significantly increase monthly cash grants for education, health care, and nutrition under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

This was revealed by Rep. Marcos, who said he reported to House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy III that the Committee on Appropriations was working on approving the measure's budgetary requirements.

“Passing a consolidated 4Ps bill is important to strengthen support for education, health, and nutrition. It will help the government provide more sustained assistance to Filipino households,” Rep. Marcos said.

“We want to strengthen social protection for the country’s low-income households,” noted the presidential son.

The House Committee on Poverty Alleviation, chaired by former president and incumbent Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, earlier approved the measure.

It includes higher education subsidies, a near doubling of the health grant, and new cash support for food, nutrition, and children in their first 1,000 days of life, marking one of the most significant upgrades to the country’s flagship anti-poverty program since its enactment.

The substitute measure is a consolidation of House Bill (HB) Nos. 23, 42, 104, 120, 604, 1913, 2313, 4174, and 4634, or an Act Amending Sections 2, 3, 7, 10, 11, and 22 of Republic Act (RA) No. 11310, otherwise known as the “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) Act.”

Under the committee-approved amendments, the measure increases education cash grants for children of 4Ps beneficiaries at all levels. Monthly assistance will rise from ₱300 to ₱500 for day care and elementary pupils, from ₱500 to ₱700 for junior high school students, and from ₱700 to ₱900 for senior high school students, for up to ten months each year.

Health support will also see a significant increase, with the monthly health grant raised from ₱750 to ₱1,800 for up to twelve months annually. Children with disabilities will receive an additional ₱400 per month to recognize their higher medical and care needs.

To directly confront malnutrition and stunting, the bill introduces a Food and Nutrition Cash Grant of ₱1,100 per month for up to twelve months per year. It also institutionalizes a First 1,000 Days (F1KD) cash grant of ₱400 per month for children aged zero to two, targeting the most critical stage of child development.

Solons said these adjustments strengthen the 4Ps as both a poverty-alleviation and human capital development program, ensuring that children from poor households get a better start in life.

More frequent reviews of cash grant levels and program outcomes are included, shortening the assessment cycle from every six years to every three years under the measure.

It also adds conditionalities requiring beneficiary households to complete government-accredited livelihood and skills training programs, reinforcing the goal of helping families transition from dependency to self-sufficiency.

Included is an appropriations provision to ensure regular, adequate, and predictable funding for the expanded benefits.

House members said the strengthened 4Ps will help keep children in school, improve health and nutrition, and ease the daily financial burden on low-income families.

The expanded program at the national level aims to reduce intergenerational poverty and help build a healthier, more productive workforce.