P. Noy supports GMA's 4Ps

CEBU, Philippines – He might be firm on unearthing the alleged unscrupulous dealings in his predecessor's term, but if yesterday's activity were an indication, President Benigno Aquino III does not entirely dislike the administration of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Aquino yesterday manifested his support to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, a poverty reduc-tion project of the Arroyo administration.

The 4Ps project was launched in 2006 to promote investment in human capital among poor families with up to 14-year-old children. It was patterned after the condi-tional cash transfer programs in Latin American and African countries that have been proven successful as poverty reduction and social development measures.

DSWD explained the project is not a form of a dole-out because the program aims not only to address the immediate needs of poor families, but also to break the pov-erty cycle in the long run by improving the health, education and nutrition situations of poor Filipinos.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman said Aquino fully understands and supports the objectives of the program and vowed to extend it to more poor Filipino families.

There are 4.6 million extremely poor families identified by the DSWD across the country. Aquino said that at present, the country's budget can only accommodate to half of it or to 2.3 million beneficiaries.

"But eventually, we will be able to cover all 4.6 million. Kapag nababawasan ang problema ng mga naunang benepisyaryo, more funds will be available for the rest," Aquino said at the gathering of 4Ps beneficiaries at the Cebu Coliseum.

Beneficiaries of the program receive P6,000 per year or P500 every month for health and nutrition of their eligible children. On top of that, they also receive P3,000 per child for 10 months for education.

Aquino believes the more the government helps families in need, the more they become productive and able to contribute to the economy.

To ensure that the cash subsidy is properly used, DSWD has set conditions that include regular preventive check-ups and vaccination of children beneficiaries 0 to five years of age, enrollment with 85 percent attendance to day-care or preschool of children three to five years old and enrollment to elementary and high school with 85 percent attendance of children six to 14 years old.

Mothers must have prenatal and postnatal care and must deliver their babies with a skilled birth attendant. They must also attend mother's classes and parent effective-ness seminars.

A total of 26,200 households from four provinces have benefited from the program in Central Visayas, so far.

Cebu province alone has 5,666 extremely poor household beneficiaries, 2,727 of whom are from 10 depressed barangays in Cebu City.

Aquino visited at least four venues in Cebu City yesterday, including the Marriott Hotel, Cebu Coliseum, Archbishop's Palace and Ayala Center.

Former Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem, chairman of the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management, said that despite Aquino's "no counter-flow and no siren" policy for his motorcade, he still managed to arrive early at his appointments.

In fact, he was ahead of schedule for his meeting with local businessmen at the Marriott Hotel and his meeting with Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal at the Archbishop's Palace.

Jakosalem admitted they "maneuvered" the traffic system yesterday to ensure that the traffic light is always green when Aquino's convoy passes by, something that Aquino reportedly did not miss.

"Nasakpan ni P-Noy kay pag-abot nila sa eskena Osmeña Boulevard ug P. del Rosario Street nakit-an niya nga stop signal na unta pero mikalit lang og balik sa green light," Jakosalem said. - Jessica Ann R. Pareja and Rene U. Borromeo/JMO (FREEMAN)