Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero is pushing for a broader and more uniform definition of indigency, saying the current standards are too restrictive and fail to reflect the actual financial difficulties faced by many Filipino families.
In his podcast, “Chiz Wiz! Usapang May Laman,” aired over the weekend, Escudero pointed out that indigency is often associated with membership in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps. He said this approach overlooks families who may not officially fall under the income-poor category but are still unable to afford expensive medical treatment, legal services, or other extraordinary expenses.
Escudero noted that existing laws do not provide a single, uniform definition of indigency. Different government agencies use different standards. Barangays issue certificates of indigency under the Local Government Code, while the Public Attorney’s Office uses poverty indicators based on Philippine Statistics Authority data. Meanwhile, the 4Ps program relies on the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s system for identifying qualified poor households.
The senator argued that indigency should be determined not only by a person’s income but also by the circumstances they face.
He cited families dealing with serious illnesses such as leukemia or cancer as examples, saying they could be considered “cancer-indigent” because of the extraordinary medical expenses involved. Likewise, individuals who cannot afford the cost of legal proceedings could be classified as “litigation-indigent.”
Escudero said even professionals such as teachers, who may earn more than the minimum wage, can suddenly face financial hardship when confronted with major medical bills or legal expenses.
“Ano ba talaga ibig sabihin ng indigency? Meaning 4Ps ka ba? Ang problema kasi sa batas natin iisa lang ibig sabihin ng indigency. Pero para sa akin iba’t iba ang level ng indigency,” Escudero said.
He also cited the high cost of legal proceedings, including petitions for the nullity of marriage, which can reach hundreds of thousands of pesos.
“So, litigation-indigent siya. Pag may nagkasakit sa pamilya mo, tulad ng cancer, cancer-indigent ‘yung pamilya mo,” he explained.
The veteran legislator said the government should reconsider its current one-size-fits-all approach and recognize different classifications of indigency so that more Filipinos can qualify for essential government assistance and services.
His proposal was supported by litigation lawyer Maggie Garduque, who said that recognizing different classifications of indigency could be consistent with the Constitution’s equal protection clause.
