Aquino scores Roxas' rivals for making 'false' promises over 4Ps 

BAGUIO CITY — President Benigno Aquino III on Sunday scored the opponents of administration standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II over their supposed false promises on expanding the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps.

Speaking at the campaign rally of the Liberal Party (LP)-led Daang Matuwid coalition here, Aquino asked the crowd whether they wanted to entrust the anti-poverty program to candidates who have so far promised more than what they could do.

“Gusto niyo po bang ipagkatiwala ang malaking pondo ng Pantawid Pamilya na nakakatulong na sa marami nating kababayan sa ganitong mga kandidato at sa kanilang mga pangako?”

President Aquino scored one presidential candidate who promised an “unconditional” cash transfer program.

“Siyempre itatanong natin, ‘di ba conditional nga e ,cash transfer. Pantay ang trato sa lahat ng pwedeng maging benepisyaryo. ‘Pag wala ka ng mga kondisyones, ano kaya ang balak dito? Diktahan na lang, ituturo na lang kung sino isasali,” Aquino said.

It was Sen. Grace Poe who had been quoted in reports to have mentioned the said campaign promise.

Aquino also criticized another candidate’s promise to expand the 4Ps by giving at least a sack of rice to the poorest of the poor. 

During a campaign rally in Butuan City, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte said he will get funds from the sin tax and the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) to fund such plan. 

“‘Yung isa naman po magbibigay pa ng sako sako ng bigas. Minsan ho napapagiisip ako, grabe po mangako lahat ito pero wala namang patunay na magagawa po lahat ito,” Aquino said. 

“May isang matindi pang nagsabi, palalawakin ko ang benepisyo ng 4Ps. Pero mismong anak niya ang nagsigaw, tila 2013 nung naririnig natin ito kailangan imbestigahan ‘yang programang ‘yan. Ito sa harap ng kaliwa’t kanang alegasyon sa kanya ng katiwalaan na ayaw niyang sagutin o linawin,” the President added. 

Aquino was making an apparent reference to Vice President Jejomar Binay, whose daughter, Senator Nancy Binay, supposedly opposed the government’s 4Ps.

Aquino said Roxas’ opponents are using the 4Ps in their campaign following a recent survey showing four out of five Filipinos will “probably vote” for a candidate who is pushing for the continuation of the program.

He also trumpeted anew the 4Ps as an initiative which had already lifted 7.7 million Filipinos lifted out of poverty. 

The Aquino government has allotted a budget of P62.7 billion to cover 4.6 million households this year. — APG, GMA News