Recognizing the challenges that victims face in recovering from natural or man-made calamities, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is pushing for his proposal to provide immediate assistance to families that have lost their properties and livelihoods as a result of disasters.
According to Cayetano, individuals affected by natural or human-caused disasters such as floods, storms, typhoons, fires, or earthquakes should receive financial aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“This measure proposes to strengthen the 4Ps [Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program] Law to aid our kababayan placed in unfortunate situations without their fault, such as in disasters,” he said in his Explanatory Note to Senate Bill No. 302 or the 4Ps for Disaster Victims Act.
He formally filed the proposal on July 18 last year. On April 23 (Tuesday), the proposal will be deliberated within the Committee on Social Justice, Welfare, and Rural Development.
Under the proposal, DSWD is required to provide immediate help to victims of disasters who have suffered property or livelihood losses.
“Ang DSWD, bibigyan ng immediate financial assistance ang mga pamilyang apektado ng bagyo, lindol, or whatever natural calamity. Then within 15 to 30 days ia-assess y’ung economic status ng pamilya,” Cayetano said.
Under the proposal, victims who have been rendered poor by disaster will receive immediate enrollment in the 4Ps program with full benefits. Individuals who suffered losses but were not rendered poor will also be enrolled immediately and eligible as full beneficiaries for one year.
Cayetano also emphasized that the government can further utilize existing programs such as the 4Ps so that disaster victims will receive the immediate help they need.
“Dapat pwede nating magamit yung 4Ps para matulungang makabangon ang mga pamilyang apektado ng mga kalamidad, we should be able to enroll families into the program in times of disasters,” he said.
