Incoming DSWD chief wants thorough review of 4Ps

Incoming Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said yesterday she would call for a thorough review of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) pursued by the Aquino and Arroyo administrations. She stressed that the CCT, “a bridge program” that the previous administrations viewed as a means to effectively address and curb poverty, should be reviewed as it usually benefits beneficiaries who are not qualified. A study conducted by the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) several years ago showed that up to 40 percent of the CCT beneficiaries were political allies of DSWD officials, barangay officials and war leaders of mayors or congressmen and governors. Another study conducted by the Oxford University in Eastern Samar also discovered that the ATM cards of some CCT beneficiaries were taken by unscrupulous mayors who took commissions. Taguiwalo noted that some DSWD programs like the Kalahi-CIDSS [...]