More time sought for cash transfer program

MALACANANG asked the public on Saturday to give a little more time for the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program of the Aquino administration to take effect.

In a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the government is planning to widen the coverage of the CCT program to assist the poor and achieve a long-term impact on the government’s fight against poverty.

The government is being criticized for not effectively addressing poverty despite the aggressive implementation of the CCT program.

"Give it a little more time. And also if you really want to look at the success of the CCT program, the beneficiaries should be the one to be asked on how the 4Ps program helped their life," Valte said, referring to the CCT and recent surveys about self-rated poverty.

"That's why this year, we are looking to cover more in the CCT program, from 3.1 million families, we’re looking to cover 3.8 million for the following year," she said.

Recent survey figures are very volatile in the short term, according to Valte and the two years of the Aquino administration being in power is not something to be equated overnight in terms of fighting poverty.

"Two years isn't "long term," Valte said, noting the administration may do some adjustment in carrying the anti-poverty initiative.

Surveys are randomly sampled and do not cover CCT beneficiaries, Valte said. The Palace spokesperson also suggested that if the survey firms really want to measure the impact of the CCT on fighting poverty they should conduct survey on CCT beneficiaries.

Valte also said the campaign against poverty is not just about the CCT program, adding the initiative has additional support programs such as livelihood training, cash-for-work program and housing for the poor. (SDR/Sunnex)