DSWD to provide livelihood to poorest of the poor through CCT

MANILA, Philippines - Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman plans to provide livelihood to the poorest of the poor.

Speaking over radio dzRH, Soliman said by next year almost one million beneficiaries would be receiving financial assistance as well as tips on how to become entrepreneurs from the national government under Conditional Cash Transfer.

“For 2011, there would be a complementary approach wherein we would not only have a pang tawid pamilya, we would also teach them and give them start up capital for their livelihood,” she said.

Soliman said during the five-year program beneficiaries, they would be “trained and would be given start-up capital for their livelihood.

“You have four years to be trained on how to manage a business or develop a skill so after five years, you can stand on your own,” she said.

Soliman said they also plan to distribute money to beneficiaries in remote towns through automated teller machines (ATM).

“Landbank is planning to put up about 100 ATMs in different areas,” she said. “This would not only benefit our beneficiaries but government workers such as the teachers since they would no longer have to travel to the cities just to withdraw their salaries.”

Soliman said through the program, parents became motivated because they were given an opportunity to stop the cycle of poverty.

About 95 to 98 percent of beneficiaries have been responsible in spending money received from the government, she added.