As-delivered Press Conference Statement
Arsenio M. Balisacan, PhD
Secretary

National Economic and Development Authority
Malacañang Press Conference
20 April 2023

Malacañang Press Briefer Daphne Oseña-Paez,

Members of the Malacañang Press Corps,

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning.

During its fifth meeting today, the NEDA Board, chaired by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., approved two landmark measures that will advance our efforts towards achieving deep social and economic change, leading to a prosperous, inclusive, and resilient Philippines. The first one was the approval of the EO or Executive Order operationalizing Philippines’ tariff commitments under the RCEP Agreement, as will be reported later by my colleague, Trade Secretary Fred Pascual.

The second measure is the approval of the recommendations for the Social Protection Floor or SPF, which were endorsed by the Cabinet Level of the Social Development Committee. These recommendations aim to institutionalize and improve the government’s current initiatives that cater to the needs of the most vulnerable Filipinos.

The Social Protection Floor, or SPF, refers to nationally defined sets of basic social security guarantees that aim to prevent or alleviate poverty, vulnerability, and social exclusion. These guarantees provide protection to individuals and families in times of need. The guarantees should ensure that, at a minimum, everyone in need has access to essential healthcare and basic social services. These guarantees work together to provide effective access to goods and services that are defined as necessary at the national level.

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.

I would like to reiterate that social protection and human capital development are among the government’s goals as 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.

The SPF consists of four basic guarantees that cover the entire lifecycle: 1.) Health, including Maternity Care, 2.) Children, 3.) Active Age, and 4.) Older Persons.

The SPF for Health advocates for the complete implementation of Universal Health Care or UHC to ensure that all individuals have access to adequate and accessible healthcare services.

Meanwhile, the SPF for Children includes initiatives aimed at providing access to child nutrition, education, and care. This SPF guarantees social protection for children, at least at a nationally defined minimum level, and ensures access to nutrition, education, care, and any other necessary goods and services.

The recommendations under the SPF for Children include the following: a) enhancing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps program; b) full implementation of feeding programs; for example, currently, we are feeding 570,000 children for 120 days. Under the SPF, we aim to increase the number of feeding days to 290 in the medium term and to 365 days at the end of this administration’s term. We will also ensure to provide ready to eat and high nutritious food to children during calamities. c) third, addressing teenage pregnancy; d) fourth, program for Children in Need of Special Protection; e) fifth, providing for healthcare and mental health support, and many other services.

The SPF for Active Age, on the other hand, comprises initiatives that support Filipinos who are unable to earn sufficient income, including those who are part of the informal economy. This SPF includes provisions for emergency employment, enrollment of all beneficiaries of livelihood programs in social security programs, enhancement of existing unemployment insurance, social insurance coverage for job order and contract of service employees in the public sector, promotion of savings mobilization, employee compensation benefits, and programs for Overseas Filipino Workers or OFWs.

Lastly, the SPF for Older Persons aims to extend social assistance and social pension programs to senior citizens. Under social assistance, we will ensure that elderly individuals receive discounts, have access to lifelong learning opportunities, and receive integrated health services. Additionally, under social pension, our goal is to fully implement Section 5 of the Expanded Senior Citizens Act, which provides pension coverage to all indigent senior citizens.

Let me emphasize that today’s approval of the government’s Social Protection Floor is a significant progress in our country’s development history. This is a manifestation of the government’s commitment to significantly reduce poverty incidents and promote inclusive growth.

Thank you, and I look forward to responding to any questions you may have later.

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