The incoming social welfare secretary says she is not inclined to institutionalize the government’s conditional cash transfer program.
While we wonder how University of the Philippines professor Judy Taguiwalo could assert this when her would-be boss, President-elect Rodrigo Duterte, himself said he would continue the government-sponsored dole program, we find her pronouncement comforting nonetheless.
At the very least, one person gets the literal translation of “pantawid”—as it is used in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program—a temporary measure, something to tide one over until better times come along.
“Why would you institutionalize a stop-gap measure?” Taguiwalo said.
Under the 4Ps program, families belonging to the “poorest of the poor” are given cash incentives on the condition that they send their kids to school and avail themselves of health services offered in their communities. The premise is that the government simultaneously works towards providing sustainable employment for the recipients of the dole. One day, they would no longer need the assistance as they provide for their own needs.
This makes sense—in principle. In practice, however, some recipients have been known to squander the cash on non-essential goods. Worse, the just-conducted elections provided an opportunity for the providers of aid—the incumbent administration party—to get on the good side of the recipients, who just happened to be registered voters as well.
In fact, it was not at all uncommon for Liberal Party bets to be conveniently present at some 4Ps event at any point in the country.
And until now, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has not been able to fully account for the billions in taxpayers’ money that had been appropriated for the dole.
Taguiwalo did not say the program would be ended immediately. It is enough to know that she, of all people, acknowledges it is but temporary, a “bridging program” that would help the poor until they are given more and better options to live.
With barely four days to go until a new administration takes over, it is a good time to clarify expectations people might have of the “change” that is promised. To experience change is not to see something appear or disappear; it is, instead, being able to do something when one has been powerless before. Let’s hope Filipinos, desperate and hungry for real change, don’t mistake the convenient bridge for the destination.