Aquino admin needs P2B more for CCT program

The Aquino administration needs P2 billion more for its P21-billion conditional cash transfer (CCT) program and Budget Secretary Florencio Abad has started looking for more funds. "We're looking into the matter. We have a better picture of our fiscal position in the second semester. It's too early to tell," Abad said in a text message to GMA News Online when asked where they would source the fund. “Yung budget po ng CCT ay P21 billion sa GAA [General Appropriations Act], pero nag-usap na po si Secretary Dinky Soliman at saka si Secretary Butch Abad kasi ang kailangan nilang pondo ay P23 billion — so nadagdagan," Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda said on Wednesday. Lacierda, though, did not reveal why the DSWD now needs the additional funds when the target number of beneficiaries is unchanged. He is also unsure where Abad will get the funding. “Yung targeted beneficiaries for 2011 is 2.3 million [poor families]. So, ito po ay hindi nagbago, ang total na na-register na pong mga beneficiaries ay 1.9 million pero ang actual na nakatanggap na ay 1.4 million to 1.5 million," he said. Through the CCT, the DSWD gives a monthly stipend of up to P1,400 to poor households who commit to keep their kids in school and seek maternal health care in health centers. Aside from the P21 billion CCT budget for 2011, P1.7 billion is set aside for community programs and P8 billion for supplementary feeding, food for work, and subsidy for farmers and fishermen. — ELR/VS,GMA News