THE camp of Vice President Jejomar Binay on Friday denounced a group that it claimed was circulating a report that the Conditional Cash Transfer program would stop under a Binay presidency.
“We have been receiving reports that in Leyte, rumors are being spread that the vice president will not continue the CCT program,” Binay spokesman Rico Quicho said.
“This is not the first time we have heard of this. In Bicol, Western Visayas and Central Mindanao we have received reports of organized rumor brigades targeting CCT beneficiaries.”
Quicho reassured the residents of Leyte that Binay would continue the program that is also known as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps.
“Again, we wish to reiterate that the vice president will continue the CCT but with improvements,” Quicho said.
He said Binay had vowed to improve the system of granting aid to poor Filipinos through the 4Ps to prevent several instances of non-payment and underpayment to beneficiaries and double entries and inaccuracies in the list of beneficiaries.
In its 2014 Consolidated Audit Report on Official Development Assistance Programs and Projects released on Sept. 4, the Commission on Audit noted “recurring deficiencies” such as inaccuracies in the list of beneficiaries, distribution gridlocks, non-receipt or underpayments, non-compliance with requirements and verification issues.
Binay also vowed to make the 4Ps available to those who truly needed it and to prevent its use as a tool for politicking.
He also said the CCT program must be complemented with bigger government spending for health centers and hospitals and cheaper medicines.