MANILA — The House Ways and Means Committee approved a bill that seeks to broaden the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and encourage eligible beneficiaries to pursue higher education or technical-vocational courses, including in private institutions.

Marikina 2nd District Rep. Miro Quimbo, committee chair, said the proposed expansion forms part of a “broader national effort to strengthen social protection, expand economic cooperation, and empower communities.”

“Taken together with the numerous proposals … these measures point toward a common goal: strengthening our country’s human capital. By investing in education, health, and community-based economic institutions, we invest in the capacity of Filipinos to contribute to national development,” Quimbo said.

The bill includes the creation of a 4Ps support program for tertiary education and employment, intended to help children of 4Ps beneficiary families access post-secondary education and private higher education or technical-vocational institutions.

“In essence, today’s discussion is about ensuring that our fiscal policies support these investments, so that programs designed to uplift lives, expand opportunities, and build future-ready generations make a lasting impact for many Filipinos,” Quimbo added.

House Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos, who is also backing the measure, said the amendments will strengthen social protection for low-income families and help cover tuition, fees, and other school-related expenses.