The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program commonly known as the Philippine version of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) was first implemented in 2008 and was continued after the presidential election in 2010.
From the more than 300,000 household- beneficiaries, the program now covers around 4.4 million households. In 2013, the program was expanded further to cover children aged 0-18 from the original 0-14. The expansion of age coverage is in response to the study showing that children have better chances of being gainfully employed after finishing their high school based on the new curriculum being implemented by the Department of Education.
Last April, Pantawid Pamilya held a recognition activity for the first batch of high school graduates which was attended by more than 18,000 students from the National Capital Region (NCR). More than 300,000 high school program- beneficiaries graduated last March.
“These significant numbers reflect the progress of the program in terms of changing the lives of our beneficiaries. This program has given them hope and chance to improve their lives,” shared DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano- Soliman.
As the country is holding another presidential election come May 2016, the viability of continuing the program beyond the present administration is also being asked by the partner- beneficiaries.
“I have been openly asked several times by many of our beneficiaries. From my standpoint, the only assurance that the program will be continued is through our partner-beneficiaries. We at the Department will only serve as facilitators to ensure that their voices are heard by our policy makers,” said Sec. Soliman.
At present, there is a move by the Senate and Congress to institutionalize the Pantawid Pamilya, creating a law to govern it.
“We are grateful for this initiative coming from the Senate and Congress, most especially to the sponsors of this bill who are one with us in believing that the Pantawid Pamilya will have a positive impact on the lives of our beneficiaries. We are confident that with the passage of this bill into law, we will have more children who are assured of finishing their high school and will grow up healthy,” Sec. Soliman stated. ###
