Understanding Culture,

Society, and Politics

Quarter 2 – Module 5:
Government Programs and
Initiatives in Addressing Social
Inequalities
Reading and Writing – Senior High School
Quarter 2 – Module 5: Government Programs and Initiatives in Addressing Social
Inequalities
First Edition, 2020

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Published by the Department of Education – Region XI

Regional Director: Evelyn R. Fetalvero
Assistant Regional Director: Maria Ines C. Asuncion

Development Team of the Module

Writers: Harold L. Quitoriano
Reviewers: John B. Visillas, Neil Edward D. Diaz, Divilyn M. Rodriguez
Ana Lorma A. Dahiroc
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Management Team:
Evelyn R. Fetalvero Reynante A. Solitario
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Ma. Cielo D. Estrada Neil Michael A. de Asis
Danilo R. Dohinog

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Understanding Culture,
Society, and Politics
Quarter 2 – Module 5:
Government Programs and
Initiatives in Addressing Social
Inequalities
Introductory Message
For the facilitator:
As a facilitator, you are expected to orient the learners on how to use
this module. You also need to keep track of the learners' progress while
allowing them to manage their own learning at home. Furthermore, you are
expected to encourage and assist the learners as they do the tasks included
in the module.

For the learner:

As a learner, you must learn to become responsible of your own
learning. Take time to read, understand, and perform the different activities
in the module.
As you go through the different activities of this module be reminded of
the following:
1. Use the module with care. Do not put unnecessary mark/s on any part
of the module. Use a separate sheet of paper in answering the exercises.
2. Don’t forget to answer Let Us Try before moving on to the other
activities.
3. Read the instructions carefully before doing each task.
4. Observe honesty and integrity in doing the tasks and checking your
answers.
5. Finish the task at hand before proceeding to the next.
6. Return this module to your teacher/facilitator once you are done.
If you encounter any difficulty in answering the tasks in this module,
do not hesitate to consult your teacher or facilitator. Always bear in mind that
you are not alone. We hope that through this material, you will experience
meaningful learning and gain deep understanding of the relevant
competencies. You can do it!

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 Let Us Learn
The focus of this module is to study the Government Programs and
Initiatives in Addressing Social Inequalities (local, national, global).

At the end of the lesson the students are expected to:

a. identify the programs of local government in addressing social

inequalities;
b. explain the programs and initiatives of the Philippine national
government to address social inequalities; and
c. write a reflection paper on the current status of gender equality in
the Philippine Society.

Let Us Try
Directions: Read each item carefully and choose the letter of the correct
answer. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. The following are social programs of the Philippine government to

alleviate Filipinos from poverty, EXCEPT:
a. Social pension c. Unconditional Cash Transfer
b. Pantawid Pamilya d. Nutrition Month C

2. It is also known as the Global Goals which aims to end poverty, protect
the planet, and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by
2030.
a. Philippine Development Plan c. ASEAN Summit
b. LGU’s Plan and Action d. Sustainable Development Goals

3. It refers to the relational processes in society that have the effect of

limiting or harming a group's social status, social class, and social
circle.
a. gender inequality c. racism
b. social inequality d. ethnocentrism

4. The following are programs under Sustainable Development Goals of

United Nations Development Programme, EXCEPT:
a. No poverty c. No Illegal Gambling
b. Zero hunger d. Gender Equality

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5. The program of the National government that grants free tuition and
miscellaneous fees in state colleges and universities.
a. Pantawid Pasada Program c. Republic Act No. 10931
b. Pantawid Pamilya Program d. Republic Act No. 9994

6. It is a social program of the government that aims to provide cash

assistance to poor households who may not directly benefit from the
tax cuts provided by TRAIN law but affected by inflation.
a. Pantawid Pasada Program c. Unconditional Cash Transfer
b. Social pension d. Conditional Cash Transfer

7. The Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program focuses mainly in three aspects,

EXCEPT:
a. Health c. Nutrition
b. Pension d. Education

8. It is an act providing for the rehabilitation and self-Reliance of disabled

persons and their integration into the mainstream of society.
a. The Magna Carta of Teachers c. Republic Act 10931
b. The Magna Carta for Disabled Persons d. Republic Act 11310

9. It aims to provide cash assistance to extremely poor families and break

the cycle of intergenerational poverty.
a. Program Pamilya Program c. Republic Act No. 10931
b. Pantawid Pasada d. Republic Act No. 9994

10 . The Philippine social program that gives qualified indigent senior citizens
a monthly cash assistance for their basic and medical needs.
a. Pantawid Pasada Program c. Republic Act No. 10931
b. Pantawid Pamilya Program d. Republic Act No. 9994

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 Let Us Study

Addressing Social Inequalities

in the Philippines

The Philippines is one of the countries in the world where cases of social
disparity are evident and economic inequalities are high. Poverty, as a form of
social inequality, has created a huge gap between the poorest sectors in the
society and the financially well-off individuals. The social standings of the
poor worsen due to the unprecedented disasters the country has faced in the
past months. It is not a surprise, then, why those below the poverty line cry
the same sentiment that the rich get richer, while the poor get poorer. Despite
the various anti-poor programs of the government in the past, the struggle
against economic and social inequality remain and continue to cripple some
sectors in the Philippine society.

According to the National Economic and Development Authority, the

success in reducing inequality and poverty in the Philippines “hinges on
providing the poor and the vulnerable with equal access to economic
opportunities and basic services such as health and education” (NEDA, 2014).

The uphill battle against social inequality can only be overcome with a
shared responsibility and mutual cooperation between the government,
private sectors and citizens. But the government’s role, however, to make the
basic necessities and opportunities accessible to the people are essential in
this endeavor. It is in this lens that the government can act promptly to let
economic opportunities be felt among the poorest sectors in the society
especially to our hardworking farmers and fishermen and make health and
education accessible to the people.

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 It is noteworthy to mention that in the official poverty statistics in 2018,
there has been a positive development in addressing over-all income and
reducing social inequality. According to the Philippine Statistics Authority,
the poverty rate dropped from 23.5 million in 2015 to 17.6 million in 2018
that is a promising poverty reduction rate from 23.3 percent to 16.6 percent,
respectively (Mapa, 2019). Considering the data above let us be optimistic that
the programs and initiatives of the Philippine government will continue to
create positive impact in the lives of the Filipino people in the succeeding
years.

Let us then examine some of the programs of the Philippine government

and initiatives of United Nations Development Programme to address social
inequalities in the national and global levels.

The Philippines’ Conditional Cash

Transfer Program: Pantawid Pamilyang
Pilipino Program (4Ps)

One of Philippine government’s

social assistance is the Pantawid
Pamilyang Pilipino Program. This has
been the government’s strategy in
alleviating the Filipino people from
poverty in the past years. The basic idea
of the program is to provide cash
assistance to extremely poor families in
the country provided that they follow the
conditions set by the government. The
program includes three important
aspects: Health, Nutrition and Education.
The program ensures physical and
intellectual developments outlining the approach - sound body, sound mind.
And so, the members of the program can avail freely the following benefits:
health check-ups for pregnant women and children aged 0 to 5; deworming
of schoolchildren aged 6 to 14; and enrollment of children from kindergarten
to high school. The program hopes to uplift the conditions of the poorest
sectors in the Philippine society and enjoy human development in general
(DSWD, 2019).

The table below shows the household coverage and budget from 2016-2019.

Table 1
Year Household Coverage Budget
2016 4,620,630 P62,665,628,000
2017 4,402,253 P78,186,551,000
2018 4,400,000 P89,408,303,000
2019 4,400,000 P88,106,324,000

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Source: DSWD, 2019,

According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development

(DSWD), as of January 31, 2020 the Pantawid Pamilya Program has already
served 5, 066, 899 poor households nationwide. Since its implementation in
2008, the unwavering commitment of the program to reach poverty-stricken
communities in the different parts of the country remains. To further
strengthen the program President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed the Republic
Act No. 11310 or an Act institutionalizing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino
Program (Official Gazette, 2019).

FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION

One of life’s great equalizers is

education. As a basic human right,
education must be made accessible to
all people most especially to the
poorest sectors in the society where it
is the only hope for them to uplift their
lives. And no less than the Philippine
constitution promotes the right of
every Filipino to quality education. For
this reason, the Philippine government
institutionalizes the Republic Act No.
10931 or the Universal Access to
Quality Tertiary Education Act
(UAQTEA) in 2018. Under this
program Filipino students can enjoy free tuition and miscellaneous fees in
state colleges and universities (Montemayor, 2018).
According to the Philippine News Agency, the signing of the
memorandum of agreement of the full implementation of the UAQTEA was
held at Malacañang. It was participated by the representatives of the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED), State Universities and Colleges
(SUCs), and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) with President Rodrigo
Duterte as witness (Montemayor, 2018).

The table below shows the budget allocation for the school year 2018-2019.

PHP16 billion Free Higher Education

PHP16 billion Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES)
PHP7 billion Technical-Vocational Education (TVET)
PHP1 billion Student Loan Program
Source: Philippine News Agency, 2018

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 According to the Philippine News Agency, around 1.3 million students
did not pay their tuition and miscellaneous fees in the school year 2018-2019
(Montemayor, 2020). This is truly a promising program that gives opportunity
to the poorest sectors in the society to have an access to quality tertiary
education. It is with the highest hope that those poor but deserving students
can continue to realize their dreams who shall then be the future workforce
of our country.

SOCIAL PENSION

https://files.pna.gov.ph/category One dimension of social inequality

-list/2018/07/17/uct-region.jpg is the minority especially the ill and
forsaken elderly. They are oftentimes left
behind when it comes to priority in social
assistance and programs. Fortunately,
the Philippine government pays tribute to
the senior citizens for their contributions
in nation building by passing into law the
Republic Act No. 9994 or the Expanded
Senior Citizens Act of 2010. Under
SocPen, the qualified senior citizens
receive cash assistance amounting to
P500 per month to be given in a monthly
or semestral basis. The program clearly
specifies the qualified beneficiaries: to wit; the senior citizens who are frail,
sickly or with disability; without a permanent source of income and without
any pension from other government agencies (PNA, 2020).
According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development
(DSWD), as of April 29, 2020 they have given benefits to 227,876 indigent
senior citizens from the different regions in the country equivalent to more
than P674 million (PNA, 2020).

UNCONDITIONAL CASH TRANSFER

In order to protect the poor and

vulnerable on the impact of TRAIN law the
government initiates a mitigating measure
– the Unconditional Cash Transfer
Program. Under this program the poor
households receive cash assistance who
may not directly benefit from the tax cuts
provided by TRAIN but affected by inflation.
Unlike in Conditional Cash Transfer which
requires conditions to be followed, the
Unconditional Cash Transfer requires no
criteria upon the recipient’s actions.

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 According to the Department of Finance, under the 2019 national
budget around P18.39 billion was released from July 2019 to March 2020 to
5,108,330 UCT recipients with an amount equivalent to P3, 600 per
beneficiary-household. The beneficiaries are composed of the members of 4Ps,
Senior Citizens Act of 2010 and poor households identified by DSWD
(DOF, 2020).

Pantawid Pasada Program

With the implementation of TRAIN

law some sectors of the Philippine society
are starting to feel it. This includes our
jeepney drivers whose daily income is only
enough for the daily subsistence of their
families. In response to this, the
government initiates the Pantawid Pasada
Program to grant fuel subsidy to eligible
beneficiaries.
According to the Land
Transportation Franchising and Regulatory
Board (LTFRB), last 2018 there were
around 179,000 valid franchise holders of
Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJ) nationwide
who were given Pantawid Fuel card
containing P5,000 valid only for fuel purchases (LTFRB, 2018).

Another crucial step of the Philippine government to alleviate millions

of Filipinos from poverty is through the Comprehensive Tax Reform Program
(CTRP). The current administration believes that an efficient tax program is
needed to boost the capacity of the government to reduce poverty and to
address inequality in a long term basis. With the mitigating measures of the
government to the impact brought forth of the program to the poorest sectors,
it has become a promising strategy that will address social inequalities in the
years to come. At present, the initial package, the Tax Reform for Acceleration
and Inclusion (TRAIN) law, has been implemented and in the succeeding years
other packages will follow as part of the tax reform with the highest hope to
generate more revenues to fund infrastructures and create opportunities to
the underprivileged and marginalized sectors in the society (DOF, 2019).

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 Global Initiatives to End Inequality

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by all

Member States of United Nations in 2015. It has 17 Global Goals which
advocates a balance development in social, economic, and environmental
sustainability. More and more Countries in the world recognize the
interrelatedness of the different dimensions of human and societal
developments, and thus a holistic approach is needed to address the social
inequalities in the world. Further, the members have committed to fast-
track progress of the least, the last and the lost in response to the
increasing incidents of people who are left behind. With the collective efforts
of stakeholders, the SGDs hope to make the world free from poverty,
hunger, AIDS and discrimination against women and persons with
disabilities (UNDP, 2020).

Let Us Practice
Directions: Identify the programs of your local government in addressing the
dimensions of social inequalities shown in the pictures below. Write your
answer on a separate sheet of paper.

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What can you say about the situations illustrated in the above pictures?
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Do you think the social programs of the government are effective in addressing
their situations? Why or Why not? _________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Let Us Practice More

Directions: Identify the programs of your local government in addressing the
dimensions of social inequalities provided below and give a brief description.
Dimensions of Social Programs of your local Description
Inequality government
Homeless Families
Out of School Youth
Unemployment
Persons with Disabilities
Frail and sickly elderly

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 Let Us Remember
Directions: Provide the correct meaning of the acronym of the following
Philippine Social Programs and Government Agencies. Write your answer on
a separate sheet of paper.

1. UAQTEA –
2. UCT -
3. TRAIN -
4. DSWD –
5. CTRP –
6. 4Ps –
7. SDGs–
8. NEDA –
9. DBM –

10. SUCs -

Let Us Assess
Directions: Explain the following programs of the Philippine national
government to address social inequalities. Discuss their significance and
impact in the lives of the Filipino people. Write your answer on a separate
sheet of paper.

1. Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)__________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

2. Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act___________________

_____________________________________________________________________

3. Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010 or Social

Pension__________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

4. Unconditional Cash Transfer _________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

5. Pantawid Pasada Program ____________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

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 Let Us Enhance
Directions: Identify the terms described in each item. Write your answer on a
separate sheet of paper.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program TRAIN Law

The Expanded Senior Citizens Act Unconditional Cash Transfer
Pantawid Pasada Program Sustainable Development Goals

The Magna Carta for Disabled Persons Social Inequality

Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act

Republic Act No. 9710 or the The Magna Carta of Women

_____________1. Due to economic inequalities, the gap between the rich and the
poor in the Philippine society has become evident over the past years. This
phenomenon is what we call____.
____________2. Maria is a saleslady of a certain warehouse in Davao City. Her
salary does not belong to the category set by TRAIN law for tax cuts and with
the rising prices of basic commodities she is afraid that sooner she can no
longer support the financial needs of her family. Maria is eligible to be a
member of what social program of the government?
____________3. Last 2015, the members of United Nations agreed to advocate
balance approach in environmental, social, and economic developments to
fight global inequalities which eventually called as the _______.
____________4. A certain public school teacher was overjoyed upon hearing
that finally she will have higher take home pay due to the implementation
of what program of the government?
____________5. Agatha was a subject of discrimination in her workplace
because among the employees she is the only woman working in a sugarcane
company. This and other forms of abuses against women can be best
addressed if there is a law that protects them. What particular Philippine law
can be applied on her case?
____________6. Jose, with an inborn abnormality on his right leg, is sometimes
subject to discrimination by his colleagues. What particular program of the
government that protects the status of people who are discriminated due to
their disability?
____________7. As a senior high school student coming from a poor family, Ana
is not sure whether she can continue her formal education. What particular
program of the Philippine government she should consider?
____________8. Jackie, with no permanent work, has three children below 18
years old who are still studying and whose husband is unemployed due to his

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illness. She is in desperate need of support from the government, what social
program of the government can best address her situation?
____________9. Mr. Lando is a senior citizen and has no reliable source of
financial assistance to sustain his daily needs. As vulnerable as his situation
brings, he should be a beneficiary of what social program of the Philippine
government?
____________10. Mang Ranillo has been a jeepney driver for a decade. As the
only source of the daily subsistence of his family, he is hoping to receive
financial assistance from the national government. Mang Ranillo can avail
what program of the government?

Let Us Reflect
Directions: Reflect on the current status of gender equality in the Philippine
society. Do you think the lives of women and LGBT community have improved
over the past years? Cite examples where they are most vulnerable. Write your
reflection on a short bond paper.

I reflect that_______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

I learned that______________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Rubrics for Reflection Paper

Criteria Outstanding -4 Proficient -3 Basic - 2 Below
expectation -1
Critical Insightful Analysis, Substantial information Connections Superficial
Thinking synthesis and and general connections are limited and Little
evaluation are made analysis
Personal High quality of Connects ideas and Many Lack of
Reflection personal reflections thoughts to personal connections connections
that connect life, learning and need further to personal
between real-life community explanation or life
and learning justification
Language An occasional Few grammatical or Obvious Errors make
grammatical or stylistic error grammatical content very
stylistic error or stylistic difficult to
error read

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 13
Let Us Enhance
1. Social Inequality
2. Unconditional Cash Transfer
3. Sustainable Development Goals
4. TRAIN Law
5. Magna Carta for Women/R.A. No. 9710
6. The Magna Carta for Disable Persons
7. Universal Access to Quality Tertiary
Education Act
8. Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program
9. The Expanded Senior Citizens Act
10. Pantawid Pasada Program
Let Us Remember Let Us Try
1. Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act 1. D
2. Unconditional Cash Transfer
3. Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion 2. D
4. Department of Social Welfare and Development
3. B
5. Comprehensive Tax Reform Program
6. Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program 4. C
7. Sustainable Development Goals
8. National Economic and Development Authority 5. C
9. Department of Budget and Management
6. C
10. State Universities and Colleges
7. B
8. B
9. A
10. D
Answer Key
 References

ONLINE SOURCES:
DOF. “LANDBANK releases P40.6-B to UCT beneficiaries.” Last modified
November 6, 2020. Accessed November 8, 2020.
https://www.dof.gov.ph/landbank-releases-p40-6-b-to-uct-
beneficiaries/.
DOF. “Tax Reform.” 2019. Accessed date October 24, 2020.
https://taxreform.dof.gov.ph/.

DSWD. “DSWD starts payout for 'social pension' beneficiaries”. Last

modified April 29, 2020. Accessed date October 25, 2020.
https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1101434.

DSWD. “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program”. 2020. Accessed date

October 23, 2020. https://pantawid.dswd.gov.ph/

DSWD. “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program”. 2019. Accessed date

October 25, 2020.
https://transparency.dswd.gov.ph/wpcontent/uploads/2019/01/Maj
or-Programs-and-Projects_-Beneficiaries as-of-December-2018.pdf.

LTFRB. “Pantawid Pasada Program”. Last modified April 23, 2018.

Accessed date October 25, 2020. https://ltfrb.gov.ph/pantawid-
pasada-program/.

Mapa, Claire Dennis. “Proportion of Poor Filipinos was Estimated at

16.6 Percent in 2018”. Last modified December 6, 2019. Accessed
date October 23, 2020. https://psa.gov.ph/poverty-
pressreleases/nid/144752.

Montemayor, Maria Teresa. “Free college education in full swing in

2018”. Last modified December 28, 2018. Accessed date October 23,
2020. https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1057514.

UNDP. “Sustainable Development Goals”. 2020. Accessed date October

26,2020. https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable
development-goals.html.

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F. Torres St., Davao City

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Email Address: lrms.regionxi@deped.gov.ph