DSWD taps key personalities for ‘Ahon’ program

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has tapped several key personalities from the private sector and academe to monitor cash dole-outs to the poor under the government’s Ahon Pamilyang Pilipino program, to ensure transparency and effectiveness of the latest poverty-alleviation project.

The DSWD will set up a National Independent Monitoring and Advisory Committee and has invited former socio-economic planning secretary Solita Monsod, former budget secretary Leonor Briones, industrialist Raul Concepcion, Fr. Romeo Intengan, and former Armed Forces of the Philippines chief retired Gen. Generoso Senga to become members.

DSWD Secretary Esperanza Cabral said that the five have responded positively to the invitation.

In her presentation during yesterday’s Cabinet meeting in Malacañang, Cabral said that the program, which provides cash assistance to poor families subject to some conditions, has proven effective in addressing poverty in several countries.

The Ahon Pamilyang Pilipino program was recently criticized by various sectors, including the Catholic charity organization Caritas Manila.

Describing that the program as a dole-out from the government to the poor, Caritas Manila said that it would foster laziness and over-dependence on the government.

The government has allocated P5 billion for the program this year.

Cabral admitted that just like any other program, the Ahon Pamilyang Pilipino is also vulnerable to fraud and “undesirable political activities.”

In order to prevent this from happening, Cabral said that systems are being developed to counter possible fraud.

“We have put oversight and controls including formal audit, random samples, spot checks, case-by-case investigations and social control such as publicizing reports of formal controls, list of beneficiaries, hot lines, establishment of independent monitoring and advisory committees at all levels,” Cabral said.

Cabral said the cash assistance to the poor through the Ahon Pamilyang Pilipino program is meant to alleviate their short-term needs and break the poverty cycle through investment in human capital such as education, health and nutrition of children in order to address long-term poverty.      – Marvin Sy