Senators want proof dole is working

Senators “satisfied” with the results of the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program want proof that children of beneficiary-families remain in school for the program to continue.

Senate finance chairman Franklin Drilon said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is asking for P39.4 billion next year for the CCT for distribution to 3 million families.

Three children aged 14 and below are given P300 a month each while the mother receives P500 monthly for every family chosen to benefit under the CCT.

“Senators are generally satisfied with the program,” Drilon said.

Currently, 2.2 million households receive the monthly dole-outs from the DWSD.

Senator Edgardo Angara vowed during Wednesday’s hearing of the DSWD budget in the Senate to endorse the CCT during budget deliberations.

Drilon said Senator Panfilo Lacson also noted that the program was “succeeding.”

However, senators express concern over studies that nearly 40 percent of Grade One students leave school by the time their classmates enter Grade Four.

“This is precisely what CCT (needs to) address and where we would gauge the full success of the program, whether the dropout rate declines,” Drilon said after the hearing.

“This program is designed to address the drop in enrolment.  By requiring children under the program to an 85 percent attendance of school days in a month, hopefully that would result in a decline.  In the meantime, the jury is still out,” he added.