A PARTY-LIST lawmaker assured civil society groups in Bacolod City that he will support the continuation of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the government.
Akbayan party-list Representative Tomasito Villarin, who led the consultation meeting with civil society groups Thursday, November 9, at the Time Out Bar and Restaurant in Bacolod City said the CCT or 4Ps was among the concerns raised.
The CCT is a major anti-poverty program that started during the term of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and was expanded and continued under the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III, and now in the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The government program provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor in the Philippines.
Villarin noted that the government had spent about P152 billion on the 4Ps.
“We are interested to pursue and continue this and to institutionalize it as a legislative measure,” he said.
Villarin added that he filed a bill to institutionalize the CCT and the first hearing will be held on November 20.
The lawmaker said he will invite the 4Ps beneficiaries to hear them out, and know if the program really helped them and to determine its impact of moving people outside the poverty line.
Villarin added that he was also informed about the problem of some residents in Hinoba-an town who will be affected by the construction of a Japanese shipbuilding facility.
“This could bring development to the province, but we must have a win-win solution or possible relocation of the affected families," he said.
He added that there should be a proper consultation with the affected residents and let the people to participate in the process.