Palace elated over World Bank, AusAID’s optimism for CCT

Malacañang voiced elation Saturday over the World Bank and Australian Agency for International Development’s (AusAID) optimistic view of its conditional cash transfer (CCT) program. Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda cited the World Bank-AusAID report that expects the CCT program to raise the annual income of beneficiaries by 12.6 percent. “The report reaffirms our belief that this program is a solid foundation for improving the quality of life of Filipinos," said presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda in a statement posted on the Presidential Communications Operations Office website He said the World Bank and AusAID’s report “further validates" the executive branch’s proposal to increase the CCT budget to widen its reach. In the meantime, Lacierda said the government is continuously working toward ensuring a level playing field that will encourage investors and generate jobs. “This lifts our countrymen out of poverty, creating a financially empowered consumer base and further spurring growth, which, ultimately, will lead to our vision of an equitably progressive nation," he said. — JE, GMA News