Palace to critics: Spare CCT, PhilHealth from politics

Manila, Philippines -  Malacañang denounced yesterday the critics of the government’s conditional cash transfer (CCT) and medical insurance programs for allegedly being “myopic” and that they should stop linking these projects to politics.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda lamented over radio dzRB that some militant and leftist groups would not stop putting political color to any program the administration was pursuing.

“Who is politicking here? How come the leftists always see things as politicking? They say the CCT, which they criticize, is for politics. This is for the people. Can they not distinguish what is politics and what is for the people? We are serving the people. Our promise is we are going to alleviate poverty. This is one way of doing that,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda said 5.2 million Filipino households were benefiting from the CCT and the basis for their inclusion was not “even political” or through the local government officials.

“This is based on a survey, the National Household Targeting System, where we are able to identify the poorest of the poor. And we’re using this particular survey for the CCT and PhilHealth (Philippine Health Insurance Corp.),” he said.

Lacierda said unlike in the past, the government already has the funds to enroll Filipinos in PhilHealth and identifying those who should benefit from the government’s medical insurance was also being done through surveys.

He even cited that one of the groups criticizing the government’s programs for the poor was called “Bayan Muna” – meaning country first.

“Aren’t we doing this for the country first? What are they attacking? This is really meant for our poverty alleviation program. We are doing what we were elected in the first place that we are going to serve the people,” Lacierda said.

In an interview with ANC’s Inside Business last week, President Aquino said the government was studying proposals to extend the CCT program.

Aquino defended the CCT, saying it was not just a dole-out for poor families, but a partnership between the people and the government.

The CCT, also known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), is the administration’s main anti-poverty program. It gives cash incentives for poor households, in exchange for sending their children to school and requiring health checkups.

“I love the program. There are some critics who think it’s just a handout but the point is, there is a partnership between the state and the people to give them that helping hand to be able to improve their luck in life,” he said.

Aquino believes the CCT program will go a long way in improving the country’s human capital, which he says is the Philippines’ biggest comparative advantage.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said that as of April 2012, the program had already covered 3.1 million families, exceeding the 2012 target of three million.

Aquino noted the positive impact of the CCT program not just on local communities but on the people themselves.

“Because of the program’s success, there are proposals to extend its life to 10 years and we’re studying that matter,” he said.