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MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The (DSWD) said on Friday, Feb. 16, that the proposal to distribute rice instead of cash for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) was not feasible because of two things 鈥� logistics and lack of a 鈥渓egal cover.鈥�
Last Feb. 13, agriculture officials said that the proposal to distribute rice instead of cash came from them and that President Ferdinand 鈥淏ongbong鈥� Marcos Jr. was receptive to the idea.
鈥淎fter discussion with the Department of Agriculture (DA), we made it clear to them that it is not feasible because of the logistical requirements which may not be convenient with the beneficiaries,鈥� DSWD Spokesperson Romel Lopez said in the DSWD Weekend Report posted on Facebook.
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Lopez said the proposal was not in the 2024 national budget and, as such, doesn鈥檛 have 鈥渓egal cover.鈥�
鈥淭here is also no provision in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for the purchase of rice, thus, there is no legal cover to begin with,鈥� he said.
Currently, 4Ps beneficiaries receive P600 monthly in rice subsidy.
The DSWD also said on Wednesday that it welcomed improvements to the 4PS program, which targets the poorest of the poor.
There are around 4.4 million 4Ps beneficiaries nationwide currently, the DSWD said.