ZAMBOANGA CITY (Mindanao Examiner / July 26, 2012) – Manila has allocated some P2.4 billion this year to fund the government anti-poverty alleviation program called the “Conditional Cash Transfer” or the “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program” in Western Mindanao region.
The program, which is under the Department of Social Welfare and Development, goes directly to the grantees through their automated teller machine card, said Narrabelle Bue, DSWD’s regional information officer.
Bue said the CCT is not included in the P85-million regular DSWD funds which is being used to fund various expenses such as Personal Services amounting to about P44 million; Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses in the amount of P37 million, and Plant and Equipment for P4 million, including provisions and other services for social welfare centers among others.
The CCT program has successfully assisted some 239,000 indigent families throughout the region, including Zamboanga City. The beneficiary of the program must be below poverty line to pass the government evaluation.
Lenbard Retada, CCT regional coordinator, said: “The program can cover a maximum of 3 children per household. Each child will received P300 for educational purposes, and P500 more as health assistance for the family. The grantees will receive the cash grant every two months.”
Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Aquino government is pursuing inter-agency convergence of the part of the DSWD, the Department of Education, Department of Health, and the Department of Interior and Local Government to ensure that household-beneficiaries avail of education and healthcare services.
“We continue to aggressively pursue programs to address the needs of vulnerable sectors by expanding the coverage of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program through a P39.5 billion budget,” she said. (Marvin Saradat)
20