DSWD: CCT funds for 2015 only P429 M, not P4.2 B

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday clarified their proposed monitoring and evaluation of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program for next year was only P429.2 million, and not P4.2 billion.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman said the evaluation of the CCT was done to address weaknesses and further improve efficiencies of the program.

“The proposal for the monitoring and evaluation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program for 2015 is P429,298,000, not P4.2-B,” Soliman said.

“The activities under ‘monitoring and evaluation’ aim to measure the effectiveness of the systems and processes of the program,” she said.

Soliman said the amount covers for the conduct of spot checks, evaluation workshops in the national and regional levels, and the third wave of Impact Evaluation.

“The output of which are used to further improve the program implementation,” she added.

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Soliman issued the statement to clarify the question raised by Senate Finance committee chairman Sen. Francis Escudero who said the Senate will likely slash the budget for monitoring and evaluation of the CCT, saying it was excessive at P4.2 billion.

Escudero expressed concern why the government is allocating so much funds for the “monitoring budgets and cost of service” when these multi-billion budget can be put to better use if diverted to disaster and preparedness operations.

“This amount can be put to better use. We can reduce it and add the amount to major programs,” Escudero earlier said.

Based on the proposed 2015 budget, Escudero said the DSWD is seeking the approval of P108 billion spending package for 2015, of which P64.7 billion is for CCT. Of this amount, P57.1 billion will go to actual cash transfer, P3.3 billion to personnel services and P4.2 billion to implement and monitor the DSWD’s cash dole out program.

For their part, the DSWD said it was still at a loss on how and where Escudero got the P4.2-billion figure.

“We’re still trying to figure it out and coordinating with his office,” said Lei Ramos, a senior aide of Soliman. –Rainier Allan Ronda (The Philippine Star)