Palace hits Makabayan bloc for calling for abolition of CCT program

Malacañang on Sunday hit back at the progressive Makabayan bloc Sunday for criticizing and calling for the abolition of the government's conditional cash transfer (CCT) program.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said he is “puzzled” by the Makabayan bloc's opposition to the CCT program, otherwise known as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), considering its members claim to be pro-poor.

“This conditional cash transfer ay tumutulong po ito sa ating poorest of poor. Nakakapagtaka lang po dahil ang Makabayan, they are supposedly for the poor. E gusto nila pong tanggalin ang ating ayuda, ang ating lifesaver sa ating mga—‘yung lifeline po natin sa ating mga kababayan na nasa laylayan,” he said in an interview over state-run dzRB radio.

Lacierda surmised that the Makabayan bloc's disapproval of the CCT comes from its opposition to the government. He said the group might already be losing supporters because these people have experienced the benefits of the administration's flagship poverty reduction program.

“Siguro one of the reasons why is because ang Makabayan bloc has always been anti-government. E marami ho tayong natutulungan sa mga kababayan po natin. Nawawala ho sa hanay nila ang mga sympathizers nila dahil ngayon po itong ating pamahalaan ay tumutugon sa kanilang mga pangangailangan,” he said.

Instead of calling for the CCT's abolition, Lacierda said, the progressive group should be encouraging its continuity because it has proven to be a “big help” for families who remain poor.

He emphasized that the program is not a dole-out initiative since parents of poor households enrolled under the program need to meet several conditions before they are given cash grants. Among these prerequisites are a 90-percent attendance record in school for the children, participation in family development sessions for the couple, and maternity checkups for pregnant mothers.

Two of the Makabayan bloc's members, Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate and Gabriela party-list Rep. Luz Ilagan, earlier called for the abolition of the CCT because of its supposed failure to curb the incidence of poverty.

They were quoted as saying in a newspaper report that it would be a “grievous mistake” for Congress to approve the P62.7-billion budget allotted for it in the proposed P3-trillion national budget for 2016.

Some 4.6 million households stand to benefit from the program next year, the government said.

The Senate is set to resume deliberations on the general appropriations bill on Tuesday. — Xianne Arcangel/BM, GMA News