Palace hopeful Congress will reconsider P8-B CCT budget cut

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang on Tuesday asked the Senate to reconsider its decision to cut funds for the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program next year.

The Senate slashed CCT funds by P8 billion, from P64 billion to P56 billion.

"We trust that our legislators will consider the implications of their decisions on the CCT beneficiaries who are the most important stakeholders in our efforts to achieve inclusive growth," Presidential Communication Office Secretary Herminio "Sonny" Coloma Jr. said in a statement.

Coloma remains hopeful of the result of the deliberations of the bicameral conference committee regarding the proposed 2016 budget.

"We shall await the outcome of the deliberations of the bicameral conference committee on the matter," Coloma said.

The bicameral committee, composed of members of the Senate and the House of Representatives, is currently deliberating on the proposed 2016 national budget worth P3.002 trillion.

The reduction in CCT funds would delist about 500,000 beneficiary-households and reduce the program's 2016 targets to 3.5 million families.

The CCT program provides monthly cash assistance to the "poorest of the poor" families.

The Senate decided to divert the P8 billion they cut from the CCT funds to the Philippine Air Force.