Cabral defends new DSWD subsidy program

MANILA, Philippines - Social Welfare Sec. Esperanza Cabral on Thursday fended off criticisms of its new subdidy program “Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino," saying it is not just another government dole-out. In an interview over radio dzXL, Cabral said the program’s 3,000 target family beneficiaries will not be granted the P1,400 monthly subsidy if they do not comply with certain conditions aimed at boosting education and good parenting among the underprivileged. “Hindi po ito dole-out katulad ng ine-explain na po ng marami nating mga kababayan kasama na si Professor Winnie Monsod at ating mga development partners katulad ng World Bank, World Food Program, Asian Development Bank. Lahat po sila ay naiintidihan ito kaya sumusuporta sila dito. Siguro po yung iba hindi naiintindihan ang programa kaya ganon," Cabral said. Monsod is a member of the five-year program’s advisory council. Cabral also clarified that the monthly subsidy, which will be given to poor families over the next five years, is P1,400 and not P2,200 as earlier reported. The DSWD said the subsidy includes a health and nutrition package amounting to P500 a month intended for regular check-ups and vaccinations, and an education package amounting to P300 per month per child. DSWD said a maximum of three children per family can be granted the education subsidy, amounting up to a total of P900. Thus, the total P1,400 subsidy may go lower depending on the number of children in the family qualified for the educational subsidy package. Cabral said the department will implement strict monitoring and evaluation to ensure that the beneficiaries fulfill the requirements. She noted that in order to continue receiving the subsidy, parents must use the money for the required purposes as well as attend parents’ effectiveness seminars, family planning seminars, and mothers’ classes. Citing survey data, Cabral said the program aims to boost education because poor children’s lack of food, proper clothing, and transportation fare has led to a decline in the enrollment rate. “Ito po ang tinutugunan nitong assistance natin para sa kanila," Cabral said, noting that the P39 million fund for the program was allotted for such because the government has already spent over P100 billion on livelihood programs. “Hintayin natin ano ang magiging resulta bago natin husgahan," she said, adding that it may take a year to see the program’s effects. Cabral said they expect to give out the subsidies to half of the target beneficiaries by August, and the rest before the year ends. If the program turns out successful, the DSWD may expand the coverage of beneficiaries, she said. So far the program only covers families from the poorest municipalities selected in the poorest provinces based on the 2006 Family Income and Expenditure Survey. On Wednesday, the DSWD and municipal mayors and governors from Agusan del Sur, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga del Norte, Northern Samar, Abra, Apayao, Masbate , Oriental Mindoro, and Surigao del Norte signed a memorandum of agreement on the program’s implementation. Earlier in the day, Dagupan-Lingayen archbishop Oscar Cruz said that while it is good that part of the taxes are returned to the people under such subsidy programs, the government should not take credit for the assistance extended to the public. “Kahit kailan ang gobyerno hindi namigay. Ang gobyerno kumukuha, tapos maliit na maliit ang sinosoli," Cruz said in a separate dzXL interview, expressing his concern that President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo may include the program as one of her achievements in the upcoming State of the Nation Address on July 28. - Johanna Camille Sisante, GMANews.TV