MANILA -- The Palace assured that the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program of the government amounting to P21.9 billion will be spent for the poorest of the poor and that no "ghost" families stand to benefit from it.

“Ang administrayon ni Pangulong Aquino is committed to transparency and good governance. Of course, there are mechanisms in place to ensure na ang magiging beneficiaries ng 4Ps program ng DSWD (Department of Social and Welfare Development) will really belong to the poorest of the poor,” Deputy Presidential Spokeswoman Abigail Valte said Saturday.

The CCT program is under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the DSWD, which the Aquino government says will provide immediate help to poor Filipinos.

Several lawmakers earlier expressed doubts on the CCT program pointing out that the DSWD will not be able to put proper safeguards in place.

Valte meanwhile said the DSWD has in fact, weeded out some names from the initial list of beneficiaries as they have failed to comply to the criteria of the 4Ps. (Kathrina Alvarez/Sunnex)