The Sangguniang Panlungsod of Bacolod City has approved a resolution requesting the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) – Negros Island Region and the DSWD Secretary to increase the allocation of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries for Bacolod City starting 2026.
The measure, authored by Councilor Caesar Z. Distrito and co-authored by Councilor Celia Flor, underscores the need for Bacolod City’s 4Ps allocation to keep pace with the city’s population growth, migration from neighboring provinces, and the continuing socioeconomic challenges faced by low-income families.
Distrito, in a press release on Thursday, Oct. 23, said the resolution seeks to ensure that social protection remains responsive to Bacolod’s evolving realities.
“Bacolod is a growing city that continues to attract families from nearby towns in search of better opportunities. However, this growth also increases the number of poor and informal-sector households who need support. Increasing the 4Ps allocation will help ensure that no poor Bacolodnon child is left behind in health, nutrition, and education,” Distrito said.
The resolution cites DSWD and PSA data showing that Bacolod City had around 11,700 household beneficiaries as of 2022, with 3,831 households reactivated in 2023 and several others graduating each year, reflecting significant turnover within the program.
Without periodic recalibration, the City Council warned that the current allocation may not sufficiently cover eligible but unenrolled families.
Flor, co-author of the resolution, said that the expansion of 4Ps coverage is crucial to addressing persistent urban poverty in Bacolod’s densely populated communities.
“Urban poverty remains a pressing concern, especially in coastal and relocation areas where families continue to face underemployment, malnutrition, and limited access to education. By increasing Bacolod’s 4Ps allocation, the DSWD can directly strengthen our city’s social safety net and help uplift more families,” Flor said.
The councilors added that the rising cost of living and post-pandemic economic challenges have further strained poor households, making the continuation and expansion of 4Ps essential for maintaining children’s education and health compliance.
The resolution urges the DSWD to consider Bacolod’s updated poverty data, migration trends, and ongoing program graduations in determining allocations for the next budget cycle beginning in 2026.*