Despite 245-B CCT, poverty in PH continues to rise
Despite spending over 245 billion for the poor through the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program, the national government has miserably failed in alleviating poverty in the country,
Kabataan party-list Rep. Terry Ridon said yesterday as he cited a survey conducted by Ibon Foundation in which self-assessed poverty incidence rose to 25.8 percent in the first half of 2014 from the 24.6 percent in the same period in 2013.
Conservative estimates also show that some 2.5 million Filipinos have joined the ranks of those in the under 58-per-day bracket since President Aquino assumed office in 2010, he added.
Ridon said the latest poverty survey conducted by Ibon Foundation last May show that seven out of 10 respondents or 67 percent rated themselves as poor. Ibon said this is consistent with the estimate that some 66 million Filipinos are living with a 125 daily income or even less.
The congressman vowed to seek answers on the CCT program from officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) led by Secretary Dinky Soliman who are expected to defend the 103.7- billion budget they propose for 2016, including 62.6 billion for the CCT.
Ridon said the cash dole-out program for poor Filipinos was started during the administration of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo with an initial budget of 298.5 million. President Benigno Aquino III adopted the same program but the budgetary requirement has ballooned to 62.3 billion this year.
“Billions have already been sunk into the CCT program. But in retrospect, has it made a dent on the bleak poverty situation in the country? Clearly not,” Ridon said.
“Congress has allowed CCT funds to grow exponentially, despite the fact that it is merely a palliative solution to poverty. Looking back at the seven-year implementation of the program, we cannot see any clear indication that continuing this program will result in improved living situations,” Ridon said.
The lawmaker also lamented the fact that the Aquino administration has been borrowing foreign funds to sustain the largely ineffective program.
In 2010, the government borrowed $400 million from the Asian Development Bank and $405 million from the World Bank for the CCT. The government has again borrowed $100 million from the World Bank for the same purpose.
“Not only is the CCT a grossly ineffective program; it’s also adding to our mounting debt burden,” Ridon said.
Concern was also raised over a number of Commission on Audit findings that indicate questionable disbursement of dole outs.
In the 2013 COA report, the COA reported that a number of ineligible beneficiaries benefitted from CCT funds, such as barangay officials, government employees, and families with spouses and children working abroad – all inconsistent with CCT’s target beneficiaries.
According to Ridon there were also several complaints on the non-receipt of cash grants. In 2014, for example, the DSWD allotted 57.6 billion for CCT cash grants but, based on reports of the DSWD itself, only 38.4 billion had been released as of December, 2014.
“Not only has the CCT program failed in its avowed goal of alleviating poverty; its implementation is also riddled with issues and controversies that point to corruption,” Ridon said.