Press Release
August 30, 2016

Villar urges review of CCT model

Sen. Cynthia Villar today urged a review of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program after it has failed to deliver on the promise of improving poverty incidence in the country.

During the Senate briefing of the Development Budget Coordinating Committee (DBCC) on the proposed P3.35 trillion national government budget for 2017, Villar asked Department of Budget and Management Sec. Benjamin Diokno to review the program and find ways to improve it.

"I support CCT but can we review the model of our CCT? We have been doing CCT for the last six years, sabi n'yo nga the poverty figure did not move from 27 percent. Ang target ng Aquino administration is 17 percent but it didn't move after doing CCT. I just want you to review the model of our CCT," Villar said in the briefing.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is the Philippines' CCT program where 4.4 million households are enrolled and provided with cash grants to improve the health, education and nutrition situation of the poorest of the poor. With a budget of P78.7 billion this year, the program is the largest CCT program in the world, next to Brazil with 8.8 million households and Mexico, with 6.5 million household beneficiaries.

Villar, chair of the Senate Committee on Social Justice and Rural Development, urged the economic managers to look at how successful CCT programs are done in other countries.

She cited the Brazil model where farmers are required to grow crops. The government buys their produce and feeds the school children. She also added that in Thailand, they require 6 million school children to drink 200 ml of milk every day, which brought up their dairy industry.

"Ibig sabihin, pinayaman ang dairy farmers, pinayaman ang farmers, and then binigyan ng good nutrition ang mga bata for the future generation. Para iyong mga anak natin will grow up to be intelligent because they drink milk and they eat the right kind of food," Villar pointed out.

Villar said the Philippine model does not require production in exchange of cash assistance and it is very difficult to check if the conditions are met by the beneficiaries. Cash assistance was granted with the condition that beneficiaries will have regular health check-ups and the children will be enrolled in school.

"I just want to ask you, review our model of CCT. I don't mind spending for CCT, but make sure that the model is right. Kasi baka mamaya mali naman ang modelo natin, masayang ang pera at hindi rin natin mapababa ang kahirapan, hindi rin mapalusog ang kabataan who will be very essential for the future of our country," Villar said.

News Latest News Feed