This refers to the news story titled, “P4M disappears, 2 held in heist of DSWD dole.” (Inquirer, 10/19/11)
The story said that “Boco, Agcang and the third suspect took off with P8 million which was for the government’s conditional cash transfer (CCT) program.”
We would like to clarify that the amount was intended for the beneficiaries of the Cash-for-Work (CFW) program. The CFW is a short-term intervention scheme to provide temporary employment to displaced individuals by making them participate in disaster preparedness, mitigation, relief and rehabilitation activities in their communities, such as repairing roads, declogging canals, communal vegetable gardening, and construction of houses. The amount was also intended for the Rice Subsidy Program for small-scale farmers and fisherfolks—to help them cope with the increasing prices of commodities and fuel, and to tide them over during the lean months.
Likewise, we would appreciate it if the word “dole” will not be used in describing DSWD’s conditional cash transfer or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. The CCT is not a dole but a form of investment in human capital; it ensures that children beneficiaries are in school and are healthy. The cash grants are given to the beneficiaries provided they comply with certain conditions, such as at least 85-percent school attendance of children and regular health check-ups.
Meanwhile, we would also like to clarify that the cash grants for the CCT beneficiaries are not personally distributed by DSWD social workers, but go straight to the account of the beneficiaries. In cases where there are no ATM facilities, Landbank personnel and other bank conduits distribute the cash grants to the beneficiaries.
To date, we are enforcing stricter measures in the implementation of our programs and services, especially those that involve direct cash distribution to beneficiaries to prevent similar incidents in the future.
On behalf of Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, we thank the Inquirer for supporting our communication efforts.
—ANA MARIE P. DAEP,
officer in charge,
Social Marketing Service,
Department of Social Welfare and Development,
IBP Road, Batasang Pambansa Complex,
Constitution Hills, Quezon City