Yesterday, Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman held a dialogue with members of the KADAMAY Urban Poor Alliance led by Ka Bea Arellano, from San Roque and Payatas, Quezon City, who raised some of their concerns regarding the implementation of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya) or the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program.

Secretary Soliman welcomed the group into the DSWD grounds and responded to the issues raised by members of KADAMAY. For instance, Ms. Estrelita Bagasbas said that since January, she has yet to receive cash grants and has not been issued a cash card. Based on the report of the DSWD Field Office NCR, Ms. Bagasbas, together with 104 others are scheduled to receive their cash cards from LandBank of the Philippines on 12 July 2011.

The group also raised issues concerning the government’s claim that the hunger rate went down because of Pantawid Pamilya, exclusion of qualified poor families in the program, and lack of jobs and livelihood for the poor, including families whose houses were demolished and relocated to remote areas.

“I would like to clarify that it is not the government but the Social Weather Stations (SWS), a private research company, which stated in their surveys that the hunger incidence has gone down,” Secretary Soliman explained.

On the issue of job generation, Sec. Soliman explained that part of the Convergence Strategy is to enroll Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries sustainable livelihood, either through microenterprise or through guaranteed employment. At present, the DSWD has already inked a MOA with the DPWH which will begin this July in the form of employment for 400 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in Metro Manila.

Furthermore, Sec. Soliman stated that  “We provided them P10,000 capital assistance so they could start their own small livelihood projects.” Some 4,000 beneficiaries from sets 1 and 2 of Pantawid Pamilya now own small –scale businesses.”

Secretary Soliman emphasized that Pantawid Pamilya is not a temporary solution to poverty, rather, it is long-term program which ensures that children of the beneficiaries finish elementary education, thus equipping them with the necessary skills to improve their lives. It is a human development program.


Meanwhile, some four to five million families are still in need of assistance. “May mga pamilyang kailangang maitawid mula sa kahirapan,” at ang programang ito ang makakatulong sa kanila,” Secretary Soliman underscored in Filipino. ### (DSWD-Social Marketing Service) July 12, 2011