By CESAR JOLITO III
The Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod has approved a resolution urging the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to increase the city’s allocation of beneficiaries under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beginning in 2026.
The measure calls on both the DSWD in Negros Island Region and the national DSWD office to recalibrate Bacolod’s 4Ps coverage to reflect its population growth, migration trends and the socioeconomic realities of its low-income residents.
Councilor Caesar Distrito said the move aims to ensure that the city’s social protection efforts remain responsive to its evolving needs.
“Bacolod is a growing city that continues to attract families from nearby towns in search of better opportunities. However, this growth also increases the number of poor and informal-sector households who need support,” Distrito explained.
“Increasing the 4Ps allocation will help ensure that no poor Bacolodnon child is left behind in health, nutrition and education,” he added.
According to data cited in the resolution, Bacolod City had about 11,700 household beneficiaries as of 2022. Around 3,831 of these were reactivated in 2023, while several others graduate from the program each year — creating significant turnover that the council warns may leave new eligible families unassisted if allocations are not updated.
Councilor Celia Flor emphasized that the expansion of 4Ps coverage is vital to addressing persistent urban poverty, especially in Bacolod’s densely populated coastal and relocation communities.
“Urban poverty remains a pressing concern, particularly in areas where families face underemployment, malnutrition, and limited access to education,” Flor said.
“By increasing Bacolod’s 4Ps allocation, the DSWD can directly strengthen our city’s social safety net and uplift more families,” she added.
The councilors added that the rising cost of living and lingering post-pandemic economic challenges continue to strain poor households, making sustained support through the 4Ps program crucial to maintaining children’s school attendance and health compliance./CJ, WDJ