PRESIDENT Benigno Simeon Aquino III cited the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, the Philippine version of Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), as an effective tool in the pursuit for inclusive growth.
“Ang panata natin: Walang maiiwan sa kaunlaran, nasa Luzon man, Visayas o Mindanao; bawat Pilipino, makikinabang sa tinatamasa nating pag-unlad. Hindi puwedeng aangat lang ang nasa itaas, habang ang ibaba, napag-iiwanan,’ said President Aquino during the 117th Independence Day celebration in Sta. Barbara, Iloilo yesterday.
“Halimbawa po ang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. May cash grant na ipinagkakaloob sa ating kababayan, kapalit ng mga kondisyong sisiguro na ang kanilang paghihirap ay hindi na mamanahin ng susunod na henerasyon. Kabilang sa mga kondisyong ito ang pagsigurong pumapasok sa eskuwela ang kanilang mga anak, The President said.
He ended his message with a call for unity for the welfare of those who need the help most.
“Ang panawagan na lang sa atin ngayon: Manatiling nagbibigkis para itaguyod ang kapakanan ng kapwa, lalo na ng mas nangangailangan. Nawa’y gawin nating gabay ang nakaraan, isabuhay ang mga aral na ating natutuhan sa kasalukuyan, upang marating natin ang inaasam nating patutunguhan,” the President said.
Pantawid Pamilya, implemented by DSWD in partnership with DepEd and Department of Health, is an investment in human capital that ensures that children belonging to poor households, particularly those aged 0-18, grow up healthy and stay in school.
It utilizes the conditional cash transfer scheme wherein beneficiaries receive cash grants based on their compliance to their co-responsibilities. It is an investment in human capital that ensures that children belonging to poor households, particularly those aged 0-18, grow up healthy and stay in school.
In Western Visayas alone, there are 320,000 households covered by the program. Each family has at the most three children covered by the program or nearly a million children benefiting from cash grants being released by the government to ensure that they are sent to school and kept healthy
It was in Sta. Barbara where the Philippine flag was first raised outside of Luzon, back in November 17, 1898./dswd 6/May Grecia Rago