Erratic CCT payments

CCT alyas Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program anomalies are bared by the Center for Women’s Resources (CWR), an NGO.

The CWR conducted a study from April 1 to July 2011 of 100 CCT recipients from 18 barangays in Metro Manila, Sorsogon, Camarines Norte, Nueva Viscera, Negros and Mindoro. They unearthed the following anomalies:

1. Erratic release of funds, some quarterly, some two months and some six months to one year in advance;

2. The erratic release resulted in different amounts being paid like P2,200 for two months instead of P2,400 and from P6,000 for six months and P15,000 for one year;

3. In many cases, the quarterly payments came only after five months;

4. Complaints that after receiving two months or one quarter payments, they did not receive any succeeding installments;

5. When asked questions, DSWD personnel usually reprimanded the poor recipients;

6. Travel expense of P80 or more in going to the nearest Landbank ATM and sometimes they have to come back because the ATM has no money or is offline;

7. In Metro Manila, holduppers snatch their money outside the Landbank branch.

The respondents said they preferred jobs, not dole outs.

Previously, complaints have been received of unqualified beneficiaries being enrolled in the DSWD Masterlist with employees and relatives of municipal government included in the list. The CCT program should be reviewed.

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POOR STAFF WORK. . . President Aquino announced at a presscon July 27 his first pardon on July 19. The beneficiary was Mariano Umbrero, who was sick of stage four cancer.

But the President apparently did not know as late as July 27 that Umbrero had died last July 15, four days before the President signed the pardon on July 19.

This means poor staff work. PMS Chief Julia Abad should have told the President as soon as pardon papers were received from DOJ that the beneficiary was terminally ill. Later, he should have been told the pardoned prisoner had died so he did not make the 2nd mistake of announcing it in a presscon. This is just as bad as the issuance of Executive Order No. 1 creating the Truth Commission declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

There’s no transformation yet in the Palace staff!

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PNP STINKS. . . Once again, the stink in the PNP was emitted by the confirmation in the Senate that of the three brand new helicopters ordered by the PNP under then PNP Director General Jesus Verzosa, 2 were used and not brand new.

Apparently lutong macao, there were two failed biddings and negotiations were reached to award it to pre-selected supplier, Maptra. Worse, the BAC, the Inspection Team and the receiving official Police Director George Piano, did not report that used and not brand new choppers were received and after delivery P109 million was promptly paid, corresponding to the contract price of three brand new helicopters. Again, so garapal.  All the approving and receiving officials should be prosecuted.

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ABAD’S CLARIFICATIONS. . . In an interview Thursday over DZRJ-AM, DBM Sec. Butch Abad clarified that P39 billion (not P50 billion) has been allocated for the DSWD’s Conditional Cash Transfer program for 2012. The target is three million poor families. The overall program will cover 5.2 million by 2015. This means that another 5.6 poor families in the country will not receive CCT payments.

When DSWD is getting another gigantic increase, there is no such priority for DepEd, DOH or PNP as he admitted only 2,500 more nurses and 3,000 policemen will be hired next year while the 66,000 classroom shortage will not be given substantial funding with only 10,000 classrooms programmed for construction. Something is wrong with these priorities.

Sec. Abad denied the charge of Rep. Hermilando Mandanas that P60 billion has been withheld from the IRA fund for local governments. He said that the law is clear that income from Customs duties and tariffs are not included in the computation for IRA.

Abad admitted that political realities dictate that the PDAP or pork barrel be maintained despite it being tainted with corruption.

Abad reiterated that it is a top priority for the Aquino Administration to reduce the national government deficit, implying that the underspending will continue.  

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MISSING CONTAINERS. . . The House committee on ways and means confirmed in a hearing Tuesday that there are 1,914 missing containers. The collectors of the Port of Manila, MICP and Batangas were blaming each other for the plunderous loss involving billions in lost revenues. Who is responsible? Definitely, the Commissioner of Customs. The buck stops at his desk. This has never happened before. It looks like the anti corruption campaign is locked in a 40 foot container van at BOC.

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TIDBITS . . . The Philippine STAR 25th anniversary event at the Shangrila Hotel, Makati was well attended with President Aquino, Vice Pres. Binay, Speaker Belmonte, former Presidents Estrada and Ramos gracing the affair. Sarah Geronimo was the star attraction.

The inauguration of the Audi showroom at Global City hosted by Robert Coyiuto Jr. was also attended by President Estrada, Sec. Titoy Pardo, SMC CEO Ramon Ang and other prominent personalities.

Ramon Ang was optimistic that the price of SMC stocks will rise once its latest profit picture is announced.

Greetings to our readers Greggy Araneta, Ram Antonio, Ping Remollo of CDC, Emy Arcilla, Felix Ang and Commodore Miguel Jose Rodriguez.

Also, Rotary Club of Mandaluyong members: Pres. Oscar Hipolito and Rotary ANN Tita, Dr. Sonny Samson and ANN Norma, Marites Macapagal, Lita Mendiola and Atty. Bien Benitez, SBMA director.

Starting next week, we are moving our “Mr. Expose” radio program over DZRJ-AM from Thursday to Saturday at 5-6 p.m.

Our Sunday program remains at 8-9:30 a.m.