Nancy Binay defers Senate hearing on gov’t CCT program

Senator Nancy Binay/INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines–Citing the words of Pope Francis as a reason for her move, Sen. Nancy Binay has decided to reschedule her first hearing on alleged irregularities involving the government’s conditional cash transfer (CCT) program, which was supposed to have been conducted on Thursday.

Binay said the social justice, welfare and rural development committee that she chairs would first tackle bills that propose to create a task force that would handle cases of neglect and abandonment of children.

“Pope Francis wants us to tackle measures that promote peace, inclusiveness and the welfare of the children and the poor. It’s good to discuss immediately how we could help abandoned babies and children because they need our help,” Binay said in a statement.

Reflect on Pope’s words

She also said she made the decision so that the public could reflect on the words of the Pope.

She said she was grateful that the Pope found time to visit the country.

“During his visit, he taught us about the importance of mercy and compassion. It is in this light that I suggested that we instead use this time to reflect on the words of our Holy Father,” she said.

“Let us put the welfare of children and women first because this is usually neglected,” she added.

Binay said the hearing on the CCT would push through at a later date.

The hearing on the CCT was prompted by a resolution from Sen. Miriam Defensor-Santiago, who had asked the Senate to take a closer look at the Commission on Audit’s findings of irregularities in the administration’s antipoverty program.

The program entails giving a monthly cash assistance to the poorest of the poor in exchange for sending their children to school and getting pregnant women to undergo regular checkups.–Leila B. Salaverria