Inspired by the thriving livelihood measures of other countries, Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte and Senate Majority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said under their leadership, a “better and bolder” Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program will take effect.
“Sino dito ang nakakatanggap ng 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program)? Magandang programa, pero sapat na ba para sa inyo?” Cayetano asked a crowd of supporters in their campaign launch in Tondo.
“Iba po ang 4Ps ng Duterte-Cayetano. Katulad po ito ng sa Thailand. Magkakaroon ng bangko para sa mahihirap na negosyante,” he added.
The senator was referring to the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Bank of Thailand (SME Bank), which provides loans, counseling, and other services to SMEs, which help promote their growth.
The tandem also wants to expand the CCT program to include a livelihood component, where beneficiaries are given access to capital to start their own small businesses.
“Many people depend on this program. If you remove it, they won’t even have jobs. We have to expand it. Para may tunay na pagbabago,” Duterte said.
The duo said despite government’s massive allocation of funds for anti-poverty measures like 4Ps, about 50 percent of Filipinos still feel left behind. A 2015 SWS survey showed that around 11.2 million families consider themselves poor.
“If we want to end disorder brought by the lack of jobs and low income, we need to give people the chance to stand on their own feet,” Cayetano ended./DC-HQ