CCT continues, but no cash transfers for now

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said the government’s Conditional Cash-Transfer (CCT) Program will continue but no money will be released for the duration of a ban on disbursement of public funds during the campaign period for the May midterm elections. It added that the move would shield the CCT Program from politics. The program is also known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

In a hearing at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Manila on Tuesday, Tina Solloso, the program’s national deputy project manager, said the DSWD wants to isolate the 4Ps from candidates—particularly those running for local government positions—who will exploit the program to gain advantage in the run-up to the May midterm elections. The campaign period for local candidates will start on March 28.

“The DSWD instituted several measures to safeguard its programs and activities from partisan politics during the synchronized national, local and ARMM [Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao] regional election campaign in May,” Solloso added.

She said payment to the program beneficiaries will be completed on March 28, or before the implementation of the 45-day ban on the release of public funds on March 29.

The DSWD, according to Solloso, will give the next cash allowance between the last week of May and the first week of June.

Comelec Resolution 9585 said the social welfare and other departments of the government performing similar functions are prohibited to release, disburse or spend public funds except for salaries of personnel during the ban.

The DSWD, however, clarified that its ongoing public works, routine and normal expenses, as well as foreign-assisted projects, are being disclosed in compliance with regulations, although these are exempted from the ban.

It explained that the prohibition against releasing, disbursing or spending of public funds for public works during the election period does not apply to ongoing public works projects that started before the campaign period. –Jovee Marie N. de la Cruz / Reporter, Businessmirror