DSWD Plans to Include Domestic Helpers & Janitors in 4Ps
DSWD is planning to include the domestic helpers and janitors in Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or known as 4Ps.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is considering expanding the coverage of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to include domestic helpers and janitors as possible beneficiaries.
According to DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao, the proposal is part of the agency’s plan to enhance the 4Ps, which has been running for 17 years. The move aims to reach more low-income workers who meet the program’s criteria.
To qualify, applicants must be earning below the poverty threshold around P8,000 per month—and must have children from infancy up to 18 years old who are currently in school. The goal is to provide financial aid to help these families meet their basic needs while ensuring their children’s education.
The DSWD also expressed openness to other improvements in the program, such as the suggestion of former DSWD secretary and now Senator Erwin Tulfo to shift from conditional cash grants to one-time, big-ticket livelihood assistance.
This approach, he suggested, could help families start small businesses or find sustainable income sources rather than rely solely on monthly allowances.
As of July 2025, there are around three million active 4Ps beneficiaries nationwide. Under the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., about 1.4 million families have “graduated” from the program.
Social workers determined that these families had become self-sufficient and no longer needed government assistance to support their needs.
By potentially including domestic helpers and janitors, the DSWD hopes to extend the benefits of the 4Ps to workers who often face unstable incomes and lack access to formal aid.
In another post, 4Ps program helps lower the number of child workers
This planned enhancement reflects the agency’s commitment to evolving the program so it can address the changing realities and needs of Filipino families living in poverty.
The social media users expressed their reactions to the post:
