Buhay seeks accounting of CCT fund

Street children in Cebu. / Wikipedia Photo

MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) should account the P64-billion fund for the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program of the government, according to Buhay party-list Rep. Lito Atienza.

This, he said should be made before the lawmakers make another request for funding of the additional P15-billion CCT budget for 2015.

“The huge budget for the DSWD’s CCT and the Pantawid ng Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is not being spent as it should to help alleviate the plight of millions of poor Filipinos,” Atienza said.

The DSWD website indicated that P1, 400 is given to the beneficiaries every month for a family of three, or P300 for each child.

Atienza however cited reports showing that some beneifiaries were only given P1,200 while others receive higher amounts.

“Reports on the ground show that there are families receiving P1,200, some P1,400 and some P2,000.”

He also noted the irregularities on the frequency of the cash transfers.

“Some families receive the dole-outs monthly and some quarterly. What methods do they have in determining the amounts and frequency of release?” Atienza said.

The lawmaker also said that penalties were also imposed among parents who fail to attend the required seminars.

Mothers who do not attend seminars, particularly on family planning were deducted with P100 to P500 from their allocation for the month or quarter.

“The same happens when their children are absent from class. But where do these fines go? Why are they not reflected in their reports?” Atienza said.