Integrating Ayudas Under 4Ps Tops Ping Lacson’s Legislative Agenda

Integrating all forms of “ayuda” under the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) program will top the legislative agenda of incoming Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson in the 20th Congress.

Lacson said Monday that this is part of his push for good governance, along with an intensified scrutiny of the national budget bill, upon his return to the Senate.

“This early, I have instructed my prospective legislative staff to draft an amendment to Republic Act 11310, the law on the 4Ps program, to expand it and address the sectors covered by the other forms of ayuda that have become confusing and have become a political tool used by some politicians for their campaigns, both during and outside of the campaign period,” Lacson said in Filipino, in an interview on Bombo Radyo Philippines.

“Expanding the 4Ps will be better because the 4Ps has a data-driven list of beneficiaries; unlike other ayuda programs that are indiscriminate and are prone to duplication like TUPAD, AKAP, AICS and MAIP,” he added.

In Filipino: Integrated Ayuda sa Ilalim ng 4Ps, Isusulong ni Ping Lacson

Lacson also noted the 4Ps and its implementation involves studies by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of Labor and Employment, and other concerned implementing agencies.

He lamented some lawmakers even got involved in the distribution of at least one ayuda program, the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), with the bicameral conference committee allocating P21 billion for the House and P5 billion for the Senate – even if they are not the implementing agencies.

Also, Lacson said he will intensify his scrutiny of the national budget, including reviewing the implementation of the 2025 budget, which he described as “one of the most corrupt national budgets” he had seen in his 18 years in the Senate.

“I will intensify my scrutiny of the budget after a three-year absence. I want to study the pattern of how the national budgets of the last three years were passed,” he said.

“I will prioritize scrutinizing the national budget, which is the lifeline of our economy. Without the budget, we cannot move,” he added.

Likewise topping Lacson’s legislative agenda is the support for local government units (LGUs), by giving them a possible one-percent rebate on their Value Added Tax (VAT) remittances to the national government. Lacson indicated the rebates will be used for infrastructure and livelihood programs – thus becoming an incentive and motivation for further economic growth resulting in better tax collection, both at the national and local levels.

Meanwhile, Lacson reiterated he will draw inspiration from his parents in doing his job both as a lawmaker and as a senator-judge in the possible impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte.

During his proclamation last Saturday, Lacson thanked his mother Maxima for being a disciplinarian and teaching him and his siblings the value of integrity and not to take what is not theirs.

Lacson narrated how his mother, upon learning that one of his brothers found a one-centavo coin at school, sternly told him to spare no effort to find and return the money to its owner the following morning.

“That was my mother who reminded us to never take what is not ours,” he said.

Also, he thanked his father Buenaventura for his advice that he carried throughout his more than 50 years in public service: “Ang tama ay ipaglaban, ang mali ay labanan (What is right must be kept right, what is wrong must be set right).”

“My parents are my inspiration and motivation in public service. My mother was very strict and honest. I learned to be a disciplinarian because of her. Same with my father,” Lacson said.

Lacson also supported President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s call to end politics now that the election is over, and to concentrate on nation building.

“He is right because the campaign period is over. We must now turn our focus to nation building, and how to improve our economy,” he said.

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Integrated Ayuda sa Ilalim ng 4Ps, Isusulong ni Ping Lacson

Ang pag-integrate ng lahat na “ayuda” program sa ilalim ng kasalukuyang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) ang isa sa mga pangunahing isusulong ni incoming Senator Panfilo “Ping” M. Lacson sa ika-20 na Kongreso.

Sinabi ni Lacson nitong Lunes na ito ay bahagi ng kanyang pagsulong ng good governance, kasama ang mas matinding pagbusisi sa pambansang budget, sa kanyang pagbalik sa Senado.

“Ngayon pa lang, nagpapa-draft na ako sa prospective legislative staff ko ng amendment sa batas patungkol sa 4Ps. I-expand na lang yan, ma-cover ang mawalan sa trabaho, ang kulang sa kita. Huwag na ang napakaraming nomenclature kasi nakakalito at hindi saklaw ng batas, wala namang basehan. At ito parang naging political tool na lang ng mga mambabatas para gamitin sa kanilang pangangampanya whether panahon ng kampanya o hindi pa, ganoon ang kinalalabasan,” aniya sa panayam sa Bombo Radyo Philippines.

“Mas maganda ang 4Ps kasi ito data-driven, ito may batas, at may pinanggagalingan, may listahan na pinagaralan. May guma-graduate, may papasok, di tulad ng napaka-indiscriminate, ang TUPAD, AKAP, AICS, MAIP, katakot takot, maraming duplication,” dagdag niya.

Ipinunto ni Lacson na ang 4Ps at ang pagpapatupad nito ay may kasamang pag-aaral ng Department of Social Welfare and Development at Department of Labor and Employment, at ibang implementing agencies.

Sa ngayon, ikinalungkot niya na may ilang mambabatas ang nakisali sa pagpapatupad ng ayuda. Sa Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), nag-allocate ang bicameral conference committee ng P21 bilyon para sa Kamara at P5 bilyon sa Senado, na hindi naman implementing agencies.

Iginiit din ni Lacson na paiigtingin niya ang pagbantay sa pambansang budget, kabilang ang 2025 budget na inilarawan niya bilang “one of the most corrupt national budgets” na nakita niya sa 18 taon niya sa Senado.

“Mas matindi pa ang gagawing pagbusisi kasi tatlong taon akong wala doon, di ko nasundan. Magre-review pa ako ng tatlong taong budget para mapag-aralan ko kung ano ang pattern,” aniya.

“Talagang paguukulan ko ng pansin ang pagbusisi sa national budget kasi ang tingin ko sa budget, ito talaga ang lifeline ng ating ekonomiya. Diyan nakabase lahat. Pag walang budget wala tayong galaw,” dagdag niya.

Kasama din sa legislative agenda ni Lacson ang pinaigting na suporta para sa local government units (LGUs), sa pamamagitan ng posibleng 1% rebate sa Value Added Tax (VAT) remittances nila sa pambansang pamahalaan. Ayon kay Lacson, mapupunta ang rebates sa infrastructure at livelihood programs – at dahil dito, maeenganyo ang patuloy na paglago ng ekonomiya at gaganda ang pagkolekta ng buwis sa pambansa at lokal na lebel.

Samantala, muling iginiit ni Lacson na magiging inspirasyon niya ang kanyang magulang sa kanyang trabaho bilang mambabatas at bilang Senator-Judge sa posibleng impeachment trial ni Vice President Sara Duterte.

Sa kanyang proklamasyon noong Sabado, pinasalamatan ni Lacson ang kanyang inang si Maxima sa pagiging disciplinarian nito at sa pagturo sa kanya at kapatid niya ng kahalagahan ng integridad at hindi pagnanakaw.

Ginunita ni Lacson kung paano ibinilin ng kanyang ina sa kapatid niyang nakapulot ng isang sentimo sa iskwelahan na “hanapin mong pilit kung sino ang may-ari at isauli mo sa kanya.”

“Yan po ang aking nanay na nagsasabi, nagbibilin na huwag na huwag kayong magnanakaw,” ani Lacson.

Dagdag niya, ang ama naman niyang si Buenaventura ang nagbigay sa kanya ng bilin na dala niya sa higit 50 taon niya sa gobyerno: “Ang tama ay ipaglaban, ang mali ay labanan.”

“Sila ay naging inspirasyon at motivation ko sa public service. Kasi talagang ang aking nanay napaka-strict. Doon ko nakuha ang pagiging disciplinarian. Talagang very strict at very honest ang kanyang integridad. Super, napakataas talaga. Ganoon din ang aking ama,” ani Lacson.

Sang-ayon din si Lacson sa pahayag ni Pangulong Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. na dapat tuunan na natin ang ating pansin sa nation building, ngayong tapos na ang halalan.

“Tama yan. Kasi tapos na ang kampanya, dapat tapos na ang kampanya, wala nang pulitika. Ang pagtuunan ng pansin kung paano makakatulong sa nation building. Kung paano natin mapapaunlad ang ating ekonomiya,” ani Lacson.

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