poor or not poor under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of RA 11310.
Whether they are considered “poor” depends on whether they meet the poverty criteria defined under the 4Ps Law—not on whether they own land.
Does owning land as an ARB remove a household from being considered “poor”? No. Land ownership is not a basis for exclusion.
How does 4Ps define “poor”? Households classified as poor or near-poor by the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (Listahanan), based on income and living conditions.
Are farmers or ARBs excluded from 4Ps? No. In fact, farmers and farmworkers are priority sectors for inclusion in 4Ps under RA 11310.
So, can an ARB household still be considered “poor” and qualify for 4Ps? Yes—if they are still income-poor and meet 4Ps conditions.
Legal Bases
1. RA 6657 (Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law). Provides that qualified farmers and farmworkers may be awarded land. The law does not state that once awarded land, ARBs are no longer poor or disqualified from social welfare benefits. Many ARBs remain economically poor despite land ownership due to lack of capital, irrigation, markets, or support services.
2. RA 11310 (4Ps Act), Section 6. A household is eligible for 4Ps if: (1) Classified
as poor or near-poor by the National Household Targeting System (Listahanan);
(2) Has children 0–18 years old or a pregnant member; (3) Agrees to comply with
health and education conditions. Section
6(c) further states that households of farmers, fisherfolk, and farmworkers are
priority sectors for inclusion in the targeting system. This means ARBs are “priority for inclusion”—not excluded.
Conclusion
*ARBs who were awarded land may still be classified as poor under the
4Ps Law.
*Land ownership does not automatically mean they are no longer poor.
*What matters is income, access to services, and living standards—not
land title alone.
* If the ARB household still lives below the poverty threshold and
meets 4Ps conditions, they remain qualified.
