The Quezon City Council has passed a resolution supporting the institutionalization of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps under the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Resolution SP-6973, S-2017, introduced by Councilor Melencio Castelo, urges Congress to enact a law that will institutionalize the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
“The program has a remarkable impact in improving the lives of millions of household-beneficiaries particularly in health aspect and education. Children covered under the Program will have better chances of gainful employment after finishing their high school under the new curriculum being implemented by the Department of Education,” the resolution read.
The 4Ps is a conditional cash transfer program of the national government that aims to eradicate extreme poverty among Filipinos, particularly in aid of their health and education.
As of April 10, 2017, Quezon City hosts a total of 37,689 4Ps household beneficiaries. More than four million households in the country have benefitted from the 4Ps.
The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program was first implemented in 2008 under the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and continued under the administration of President Benigno S. Aquino III.
The program is implemented in 143 cities including Quezon City; 1,484 municipalities; 79 provinces; and 17 regions in the country.
Meanwhile, the Quezon City government backs President Rodrigo Duterte’s move to address the shortage of blood supply and consolidation of blood types of all Filipinos.
The city’s health department will spearhead the launch of the President’s project dubbed “Type ng Bayan” at the QCX Building inside the Quezon Memorial Circle on May 7.
About 5,000 participants for blood typing and 500 others for blood donations are expected to attend.
The local government has tapped the Quezon City General Hospital and Armed Forces of the Philippines Medical Center, saying it is expecting more hospitals to join the program.
“Type ng Bayan” is a project of the President under the Cabinet Spouses Foundation Inc., and in partnership with the Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippines Association of Medical Technologies and Ricky Reyes, a popular Filipino hairdresser, businessman and philanthropist.
It aims to document and provide accessible and safe blood for those who need transfusions.
“We need to know what our blood type is. Why? So that we would know who we should approach for blood donations,” said Dr. Mary Rochelle Paulino, the program’s blood program medical coordinator and city’s officer in charge in District 6.
“We aim to gather over 5,000 participants in our bloodletting program. If there are more [people], the better,” she added. With Herand Kezia Pandaan