THE SOCIAL WELFARE AND

DEVELOPMENT REFORM AGENDA

OF THE PHILIPPINES AND
CONDITIONAL CASH TRANSFERS
ALICIA R. BALA
Undersecretary for Policy and Programs
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this paper/presentation are the views of the author
and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian Development Bank
(ADB), or its Board of Governors, or the governments they represent. ADB does not
guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper and accepts no responsibility
for any consequence of their use. Terminology used may not necessarily be consistent
with ADB official terms.
 INTRODUCTION

• The enormity of poverty and vulnerability issues

requires re-thinking of development approaches

• The development of social protection was taken

up in Sub-Committee on Social Protection under
the MDGs and Social Progress of the PDF

• The DSWD Reform Agenda guides the reform

process and thrusts for the social protection
sector
 GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE
REFORM AGENDA

• Total Sector Approach through

Convergence and Collaboration

A total sector approach shall be used by

engaging partners/intermediaries and
ensuring that all contribute to social
protection.
 GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE
REFORM AGENDA

• Social Inclusion and Equity

The poor, vulnerable and disadvantaged

shall have preferential access to social
protection.
 GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE
REFORM AGENDA

• Appropriateness and Empowerment

The reform agenda will be rooted in the

vulnerabilities of the poor and their
capacities. Its approach to social
protection is both empowering and
developmental.
 GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE
REFORM AGENDA

• Efficiency & Social Accountability

Realities call for smarter use of resources

through fiscal prudence, subsidiarity and
complementation. The reality of limited
resources dictates that DSWD optimizes
resources by focusing its efforts and exercising
fiscal prudence, cost effectiveness and
efficiency, and maximizing engagement and
involvement of all stakeholders.
 GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF THE
REFORM AGENDA

• Sustainability

The reform agenda and processes

involved in pursuing it have to be
sustainable: resource-wise (budget,
funds); institution-wise (systems,
structures, technology); human
resources (capacities and skills); public
expectations.
 SOCIAL WELFARE REFORM AGENDA

• Reform Area 1: Leading in Social Protection

– Focuses on the development of a social protection

framework. DSWD led the formulation of Social
Protection (SP) Operational Framework and Strategy
(adopted by NEDA-SDC in October 2009)

– AO 232 and 232-A issued in July 2009 puts focus on

clustering the social welfare and development
programs of government
 SOCIAL WELFARE REFORM AGENDA

• Reform Area 1: Leading in Social Protection

– Development of the National Household Targeting

System for Poverty Reduction (NHT-PR) as tool for
identifying poor HHs and reduce leakage and
exclusion

– The SP Strategy aims to jumpstart convergence

mechanism among CCT and other social protection
programs
 POLICY MILESTONES
• Adoption of the Social Protection Operational Framework
and Strategy (NEDA-SDC Cabinet Level)

• Creation of NEDA-SDC Sub-Committee on Social

Protection (SDC Resolution No. 2, s. 2009)

• NAPC MC No. 1, s. 2009, “Directing Agencies to Focus

Anti-Poverty Programs/Projects to the 1 Million Poor
Households”

• Executive Order 867 signed on March 9, 2010 adopts the

NHTS-PR as tool for identifying poor HHs who shall be
recipients of SP programs
 SOCIAL WELFARE REFORM AGENDA

• Reform Area 2: Providing Faster and Better Service

Delivery of Social Protection Programs

– Improving and developing DSWD’s different service

delivery models (family/household model, community
model, center based model and disaster management
and risk assessment model)

– Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is a

household-based model for CCT which is the
microcosm of reform agenda as it cascades to LGUs,
while KALAHI-CIDSS is a community-based model
 SOCIAL WELFARE REFORM AGENDA

• Reform Area 2: Providing Faster and Better Service

Delivery of Social Protection Programs

- LGU participation is key to program implementation at

the local level, especially with the supply side

– The convergence of CCT with other SP programs

(i.e., Food for School) complements other reform
initiatives of government (i.e., BESRA, FOURmula
One)
 SOCIAL WELFARE REFORM AGENDA

• Reform Area 3: Financial Reforms to Sustain the

Reform Process

– Involves securing funding for core DSWD functions

including augmenting the resources of LGUs and
other partners

– DBCC approval of DSWD Medium-Term Expenditure

Program (MTEP), 2010-2014, ensures sustained
financing for 4Ps even with change in political
leadership
 SOCIAL WELFARE REFORM AGENDA
• Reform Area 4: Improving Systems for Service
Delivery

– Focused on improving cross-cutting and systemic

changes such as Monitoring and Evaluation
systems, knowledge management and information
system

– 4Ps M & E is aligned with DSWD’s Monitoring and

Evaluation Framework

– ICT component of 4Ps

 LESSONS

• Central to the success of implementing any social

welfare program is a reliable, objective and transparent
targeting system

• Monitoring and evaluation system should be in place

• Active participation of program beneficiaries is essential

and setting of conditionalities

• Good governance is key to effective program

implementation
 LESSONS

• Design of 4Ps considered gender perspective by

creating opportunities for women

• Change in the paradigm in delivering social services

from a need-based approach to rights-based approach

• Complementing 4Ps with other social protection

programs for greater impact and synergy
 WAY FORWARD
• Operationalization of the Social Protection
Strategy

– Development of a Referral System for transition or

link of SP beneficiaries to other program interventions

– Graduation Scheme with Sustainability Plan

– Monitoring and Evaluation System - to alert program

administrators of changes in socio-economic status of
beneficiaries
 WAY FORWARD
• Crafting of a 5-Year Social Protection
Plan, 2011-2016

• Mainstreaming Social Protection in

sectoral plans and successor MTPDP

• Impact Evaluation of 4Ps

www.dswd.gov.ph