BY AYEE MACARAIG
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'IMPORTANT FINDINGS.' Senator Jinggoy Estrada cites COA findings to question the conditional cash transfer program, after criticizing the agency for its audit report on the pork barrel scam. File photo from Senate PRIB
MANILA, Philippines – Senator Jinggoy Estrada turned the tables on the Aquino administration, citing audit reports to criticize its conditional cash transfer (CCT) program.
Citing alleged irregularities, Estrada questioned the effectiveness of the CCT during Senate deliberations on the budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday night, November 25.
While he was critical of the Commission on Audit report on the pork barrel scam implicating him, this time Estrada used COA findings to question the CCT.
The senator said since the CCT program started in 2008, COA found irregularities, like double entries in the list of beneficiaries, the inclusion of beneficiaries who are not extremely poor, and beneficiaries who do not comply with the program’s conditions.
Estrada then asked, “Can they (DSWD) tap civil society, NGOs, private organizations to monitor the program to ensure the funds are wisely spent?”
Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, who was presenting the DSWD budget, said yes.
Estrada then asked, “Are the NGOs legitimate, not bogus?”
Recto then quipped, “I would assume they are legitimate. I’ve read the COA report. There might be other Napoles-type NGOs but not in the DSWD.”
Recto was referring to Janet Lim Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the pork barrel scam. Estrada is accused of conniving with Napoles to channel his pork barrel funds to her bogus non-governmental organizations in exchange for millions of pesos in kickbacks. The two are among 38 individuals facing a plunder complaint over the issue.
Estrada used the COA’s findings on the CCT to ask Recto questions. Estrada said the double entries in the list of beneficiaries waste government funds.
“I believe the findings of the COA shouldn’t be taken for granted considering the substantial amount allocated yearly for the program,” Estrada said.
Recto though said that the DSWD has taken steps to address the COA’s concerns.
“There are inefficiencies, certain mistakes, but year in and year out, these are being corrected. There is continuous verification on the ground. The double entries are very miniscule compared to total picture of 4.3 million [beneficiaries],” Recto said.
The CCT is the Aquino administration’s centerpiece poverty alleviation program. It gives poor families cash in exchange for conditions like ensuring their children go to school and get regular health-check-ups. It is also known as the 4Ps or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
Estrada and other members of the opposition have criticized the CCT, saying it is not effective and isbeing used for politics.
The CCT program has a budget of P62.6 billion in 2014, up from P44.3 billion this year. The DSWD has a total allocation of P83 billion in the Senate version of the 2014 budget bill. The Senate approved the DSWD’s budget late Monday night.
Doleout? Unmet conditions? Politics?
Estrada also asked Recto about criticism that the CCT is a doleout.
Estrada said: “People say the government just wastes money, that this is considered a doleout. It’s like people just depend on the government for their food. Is that true?”
Recto denied this, saying there are conditions involved.
“This is a social protection program also. It’s incumbent upon the state to help the poorest of the poor,” Recto said.
“The World Bank has had many findings. If you compare the families [under the CCT] to regular families not part of it, more of them are in school. More attend the barangay health services. Less of their parents drink. They attend all these seminars undertaken by the DSWD."
Recto then teased Estrada, “Maybe you and I should attend one of these family programs.”
Recto, former socio-economic planning secretary, said the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have several studies citing the Philippines as a “good model” of the CCT compared to other countries.
Estrada then asked Recto what happens if a family with 3 children that gets P1,400 a month has a father who is a drunkard. “Will the government get back the money?”
Recto said the government can no longer get the money back but the DSWD can delist the family from the program.
Estrada also asked Recto whether or not the DSWD encounters problems with local government units in implementing the CCT.
Recto conceded: “I am sure they have. It happens…. The others, for political reasons, of course; in some cases the officials want their political supporters to be part of the list. I’m sure this will always be part of the problem.”
‘Poverty not going down significantly’
Estrada’s half-brother and fellow opposition member, Senator JV Ejercito, also took the floor to question the CCT.
Ejercito said the poverty incidence has not gone down significantly since the CCT was put in place.
“So I just I think the 4Ps have not made a dent as of the moment in reducing poverty incidence,” Ejercito said.
Recto responded: “We spent less than 1% of the size of the Philippine economy on the CCT. While the economy is growing, the rich is getting richer, the poor is not getting much. There are many things to be done [to reduce poverty] including investing in education but there are things like investing in public infrastructure.”
Recto then said the government has to work on other poverty alleviation measures like the Public-Private Partnership Program to pump-prime the economy.
Ejercito said, “In my opinion, we can make better use of the money if we use it to increase the budget of state colleges and universities, and other direct services.”
Recto replied, “We should do both.”
– Rappler.com
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