Aquino confident about implementation of P21-B CCT program

ALAMINOS CITY, PANGASINAN - President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III expressed confidence that his administration can properly implement the P21-billion conditional cash transfer (CCT) program should it be approved by Congress. In a media briefing on Tuesday, Aquino admitted that he was concerned about whether the government can implement the CCT program. Aquino, however, said he was convinced that the government can implement the program after a "very extensive" meeting with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday. "I'm confident that everything that can be done has been done to fine-tune the program and we are still open to other voices who might tell us ways on improving the delivery of these vital service to quite a significant number of families below the poverty line," said the president. The CCT aims to provide 2.3 million poor families — over a million higher than this year's target — with a monthly stipend of P1,400 each. The CCT program began under the administration of former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and was expanded by the current government. The CCT program is part of the DSWD's P29.2-billion Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. CCT budget subject of debate The Aquino administration's proposed budget for the CCT has been the subject of extensive debate in Congress. Several lawmakers, including Aquino's allies in the Senate, senators Francis Escudero and Francis Pangilinan, have questioned the P21-billion allocation for the CCT for 2011. Nonetheless, both chambers of Congress approved the proposed 2011 budget without cutting the allocation for the CCT program. Congress began on Tuesday their bicameral conference committee meetings on the proposed budget for next year. Aquino said he is confident that the budget will be approved before the year ends. – VVP, GMANews.TV