The National Economic and Development Authority Board, chaired by President Marcos, and the Cabinet-level Social Development Committee have approved the recommendation for Social Protection Floor (SFP) for children and the elderly.
NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan expounded on the Social Protection Floor that refers to nationally defined sets of basic social security guarantees to prevent or alleviate poverty, vulnerability, and social exclusion.
These guarantees shallensurethe extension of essential healthcare and basic social servicesand access to goods and services to those families in need, Balisacan said.
To improve the delivery of social protection services, the SDC-Cabinet Level has endorsed its Enhanced Social Protection Operational Framework of the Philippines to the President and the NEDA Board. This framework aims to enhance the quality of life for individuals receiving social protection services. This framework is the result of lengthy stakeholder and multipartite consultations that began in 2014.
Balisacan reiterated that social protection and human capital development goals are outlined in the Philippine Development Plan for 2023 to 2028.
“We will harness the framework to attain desired social objectives, such as protecting the purchasing power of Filipino families and mitigating the harmful, scarring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially on vulnerable segments of our population,” he said.
The recommendations include enhancing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps program; implementing feeding programs for 120 days which would address the nutritional needs of children.
For those without sufficient income, the program would focus on those in the informal economy who have no access to employment and livelihood programs. They would also be given unemployment insurance and social insurance coverage.
Senior indigentswould also benefit fromplanned discounts and the fully implementation ofthe expanded Senior Citizens Act.
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