Assurance to Siquijor beneficiaries Secretary Soliman: No politics in 4Ps

DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines – Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman of the DSWD on Monday assured close to 1,000 beneficiaries of the government’s Conditional Cast Transfer program, also known as the 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program), that it is not politicized contrary to their fears.

Soliman visited Siquijor to allay the fears of the 4Ps beneficiaries amid reports that politicians in that island-province have been allegedly dipping their hands in the identification of level constituents who qualify to receive the money, said Aileen Lariba, information officer of the DSWD-Region 7.

The general assembly held Monday morning at the Catholic Church grounds in Siquijor town, the province’s capital, was attended by 859 4Ps beneficiaries from the recipient barangays of the province, said Lariba.

A total of 3,601 beneficiaries have been identified under the 4Ps program in the towns of Siquijor, Lazi, Larena, Maria, San Juan and Enrique Villanueva, but only 859 of them were invited to the assembly representing their respective barangays due to limitations in transportation and venue, Lariba said.

Soliman clarified to the 4Ps beneficiaries in Siquijor that nothing or nobody can delist them from the program except for their failure to follow the stipulated conditions, Lariba said while disclosing about spreading rumors that CCT beneficiaries would be delisted if found to be not supporting a particular candidate.

Siquijor parish priest Msgr. Candelario Catubig, who was also present during the assembly, also wanted to hear the DSWD dispel rumors of political intervention in the CCT on the island.

The 4Ps was launched in 2010 in Siquijor Province, first in the town of Lazi and later that year in Enrique Villanueva and Maria, in San Juan in 2011 and this year in the towns of Larena and the capital, Siquijor town.

Meanwhile, back in Negros Oriental province, Soliman said the indigenous peoples (IPs) here have benefitted from the 4Ps since its implementation a few years back.

At a press conference Monday evening in Dumaguete City, Soliman said the IPs and similarly situated “lumads” or natives have been given equal attention under the CCT program, or 4Ps, adding that 55 families of the Aita tribe and 310 families of the Mangubat-Bukidnon tribe in Mabinay, Negros Oriental are now beneficiaries of the program.

Soliman said a modified CCT scheme is set for 2013 where Badjaos, street families and street children, those living off “karitons” and “trisikads” and other “lumads” will be included in the government program.

She further disclosed the P300,000 grant from the Department of Education for children of the natives to enroll in the informal education program, the Alternative Learning System (ALS). (FREEMAN)