Marcos eyes additional benefits for mothers under 4Ps

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said his administration proposed additional Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) benefits for mothers in the 2025 national budget as he delivered his third State of the Nation Address on Monday. 

''Sa pamamagitan nito, ang isang buntis o ang isang ina na benepisyaryo ng 4Ps ay mabibigyan ng karagdagang tulong-pinansyal na laan para sa kanya at kanyang anak,'' Marcos said during his speech. 

''Ang tulong na ito ay upang matiyak na siya at ang sanggol sa kanyang sina-pupunan, o batang anak, ay ma-aasikaso ng doktor, maba-bakunahan, at mabibigyan ng sapat na nutrisyon,'' he added.

(Through this, a pregnant woman or a mother who is a 4Ps beneficiary will be given financial aid for her and her child. This aid will ensure that the infant will receive medical care, vaccines, and adequate nutrition.)

The proposed grant will be given to infants from the poorest families until they are two years old. 

Marcos said this program would help address malnutrition in the country.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) earlier said around 28,000 pregnant women who are 4Ps beneficiaries could benefit from the expanded cash grant.

But the expanded cash grant may not be implemented anytime soon as the guidelines are being finalized, the DSWD said.

In June, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported that two million children in the Philippines are severely food poor. —VBL, GMA Integrated News