Antique faucets

ILOILO CITY, Nov. 10 - The government's 'Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program' (4Ps), a scheme designed to give conditional cash subsidy for poor families, has taken a new twist in Antique province, particularly in Laua-an town.

Laua-an Mayor Aser Baladjay proposed to add his own provisions to the ones set by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the agency tasked to implement the 4Ps, to further enhance the program's benefits.
Laua-an is one of the five recipients of 4Ps in Antique, the other four are the towns of Bugasong, San Remigio, Valderrama and Barbaza, identified in 2005 as the poorest municipalities in the province.
Baladjay said a total of 1,992 families in his town were chosen as beneficiaries after undergoing a final validation, based on the national agency's criteria and guidelines.
Under 4Ps, a lead undertaking of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's administration that aims to reduce poverty by investing in human capital, a family-beneficiary can avail of monthly cash subsidy amounting to as much as PhP1,400 for a maximum of three children, that includes PhP500 per month for nutrition and health expenses

Unfinished business
The House leader noted a long line of unfinished business that plenary will have to tackle before it again have its Christmas break in December.
The list includes the so-called social and economic parachutes that are designed to shield the country from the effects of the global financial crunch.
Majority Leader and Iloilo Rep. Arthur Defensor said among the vital measures lined up for second reading plenary approval under its Calendar of Unfinished Business include:
--HB 5241 -- The Investments and Incentives Code of the Philippines, which is under the period of sponsorship in plenary by the Committee on Ways and Means chaired by Rep. Exequiel Javier of Antique; -- HB 4077 -- An Act sustaining the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program, extending the acquisition and distribution of all agricultural lands, instituting necessary reforms and appropriating funds therefore, (period of interpellations) with plenary sponsors led by chairman Elias Bulut Jr., of Apayao; -- HB 5043 -- An Act providing for a National Policy on Reproductive Health, Responsible Parenthood and Population Development, and for other purposes, (period of interpellations) sponsored in plenary by the Committees on Health, Population and Family Relations and Appropriations; and -- HB 3124 -- An Act accelerating the implementation of retail competition and open access in the electric power industry, amending for the purpose Sections 31 and 43 of Republic Act 9136, otherwise known as the Electric Power Industry Reform Act of 2001 and for other purposes, (period of sponsorship), sponsored in plenary by the Committee on Energy, chaired by Rep. Juan Miguel 'Mikey' Macapagal-Arroyo

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