Ombudsman checks President Aquino's anti-poverty program

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas will coordinate with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 regarding the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme being distributed by President Benigno Aquino to the poor.

Ombudsman Director Virginia Palanca-Santiago said they will check details of the CCT scheme, through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, which supposedly helps people rise above poverty.

Santiago said they received information, which they have yet to confirm, that the cards were issued to families that are not poor.

She said they already coordinated with the DSWD so they would know the holders of the cards for the anti-poverty program.

Earlier, Aquino placed in his 2011 budget P21.2 billion for the CCT program, which is expected to benefit 2.3 million households nationwide.

President Aquino ordered DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman to implement the National Household Targeting System and identify families that urgently need cash assistance.

In a report of DSWD, 46,248 households in Central Visayas have been identified as beneficiaries of the CCT scheme. Majority of the families live in Negros Oriental.

Meanwhile, Santiago said they are also coordinating with the DSWD on how to they can help street children.

She said her office recognizes that street children is big problem in Cebu City. (FREEMAN)