MANILA, Philippines — A Senate finance subcommittee on Wednesday approved the proposed 2027 budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), with Sen. Risa Hontiveros stressing that social assistance must reach vulnerable Filipinos before they are pushed into deeper hardship.
In her closing statement at the budget hearing, Hontiveros said social protection programs must respond promptly to crises, reach the intended beneficiaries and provide enough assistance to make a meaningful difference, particularly as families face rising costs, disasters and the anticipated Super El Niño.
“Subject to the clarifications of colleagues later and commitments made today, I formally endorse to the plenary the Fiscal Year 2027 budgets of the DSWD and its attached and supervised agencies, including NAPC (National Anti-Poverty Commission) and PCUP (Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor), for the consideration of the Senate plenary,” she said.
The House-approved version of the proposed 2027 General Appropriations Act provides P262.757 billion for the DSWD, higher than the National Expenditure Program proposal but still below the department’s 2026 budget program level.
Under the House-approved budget, the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program would receive about P58.1 billion, the Quick Response Fund (QRF) P3 billion, and the Sustainable Livelihood Program nearly P6 billion.
During the hearing, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian reported that 1.77 million households graduated to self-sufficiency under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) from 2022 to July 2026, while 7.24 million beneficiaries completed primary and secondary education.
Hontiveros called for stronger transition support for families leaving 4Ps, saying they should have access to education, skills training, employment, livelihood opportunities and basic services to sustain their progress.
The senator also raised concerns about the coverage and adequacy of the social pension for indigent senior citizens, which provides P1,000 a month.
