Lifestyle

Php80 Billion Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) to poor sectors ABUSED

Conditional Cash Transfer (CTT) is a financial assistance program from the Philippine government to aid poor members in the community. It provides subsidies to poor households, subject to certain conditions. It requires recipient households to send children to public schools and mothers to regularly visit public health centers. Its ultimate goal-poverty reduction in the country.

According to Fr. Anton Pascual, executive director of Caritas Manila, the increasing rate of poor sectors is a clear indicator that the CTT program is not effective in resolving the poverty issue in the country.

From the time that the program was launched under the administration of former President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo until the current administration of President Benigno Aquino III, the CTT program has already reached Php80 billion of budget.

For the current year, Php39.5 billion has been allocated for the program and it will be increased to Php45 billion next year.

Fr. Anton Pascual stressed that the Catholic church is against the program simply because it doesn't motivate the people to find a job and have their own hard-earned money. It does not encourage them to be independent, Fr. Pascual added.

He also said that the government should create more jobs that should be available to them so that they will not rely to the program.

Comments:

1. At some point I agree with Fr. Anton Pascual's propositions. I also have questions on how did our government officials made their quantitative analyses and if the result of the program justifies that it indeed lowered down the poverty rate. From the article "OFW family statue loses arms", the poverty statistics is continously increasing since 2006. In this case, we are just plainly teaching these people to be too dependent.

2. But on the other side, can we let dozens of babies die because they don't have milk to drink or the little children starve because their parents could not feed them?

Two opposing views which are both rational. Php80 billion would be helpful if we will allocate it in purchasing warships, fighter jets, submarine, etc. to protect us from external threats but I could not left my countrymen starving too.

But I have a very important message to our fellow countrymen who belongs to the bottom class. I came from a very poor family and you can read a little background of my family in the article "A very Special Letter to a very Special Mother". My father told me to work hard and my mother keep on reminding me to have patience and perseverance to achieve my goals in life. Sometimes I am also lazy but when I think of my late father and my precious mother, I find strength and courage to work harder and be indepenpent. I believe poverty is not an obstacle to success. You define your own success. You control your future. Everything lies in your hand and no one can stop you if you really want to be successful.