What do you call a congressman who signed a manifesto opposing the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program one day, then the next day supported a resolution supporting the same CCT program?
Segurista (Betting on the winner) comes to mind, as at least a hundred members of the Lower House on Thursday signed House Resolution 529, which stated that “CCT is a viable and effective tool to reach the poorest of the poor provided that it is properly enforced."
Of the hundred-plus signatories to the pro-CCT resolution, 19 also belonged to an opposing group of 57 lawmakers who just the day before had signed an earlier manifesto opposing the same CCT. (See: 37 solons oppose Aquino's conditional cash transfer program)
Those who “changed" their view of the CCT in the matter of one day were: DIWA Rep. Emmeline Aglipay, Aurora Rep. Juan Edgardo Angara, Senior Citizens partylist Rep. Godofredo Arquiza, Senior Citizens partylist Rep. David Kho, North Cotabato Rep. Nancy Catamco, Pangasinan Rep. Kimi Cojuangco, A Teacher partylist Rep. Julieta Cortuna, A Teacher partylist Rep. Mariano Piamonte Jr., San Juan Rep. Joseph Victor Ejercito, Kasangga partylist Rep. Teodorico Haresco, An Waray partylist Rep. Neil Benedict Montejo, Agham partylist Rep. Angelo Palmones, Surigao del Sur Rep. Philip Pichay, Coop-Naatco partylist Rep. Jose Ping-Ay, Cebu Rep. Gabriel Quisumbing, Abante Mindanao partylist Rep. Maximo Rodriguez, PBA partylist Rep. Mark Aeron Sambar, Cagayan Rep. Randolph Ting, and Marinduque Rep. Lord Allan Jay Velasco. HR 529 was authored by Bagong Henerasyon partylist Rep. Bernadette Herrera Dy and Akbayan partylist Reps. Kaka Bag-ao and Walden Bello, who curiously were also opposed to the CCT as late as last month.
Special Committee to oversee CCT
The pro-CCT resolution stated that the cash-transfer scheme is one innovative practice to achieve social protection and inclusion for the poor, where cash is provided to families belonging to the “poorest of the poor," in exchange for their commitment to send their children to schools and for mothers to access maternal and neonatal care.
The resolution called for the creation of a Special Committee to oversee the CCT program implementation “and ensure that corrective measures are undertaken" to reform the program, which was started during the Arroyo administration.
It noted that the implementation of the CCT in the past administration has raised questions on its effectiveness, allegations of corruption, lack of available funds and bureaucratic inertia.
Bello turnaround
Interestingly, Bello as one of the authors of the pro-CCT HR 529 himself made a remarkable turnaround.
In a privilege speech last month, he had called the CCT as a dole-out program “that is being presented as a development program to end poverty."
He had asked the government to “wean away from their fascination with another magic bullet… as the way out of poverty."
He had said that the budget of the DSWD was increased “with no evidence it [CCT] has brought people out of poverty either here or abroad, except some dubious statements of the World Bank to the effect that it has worked in Brazil, a claim that many Brazilian NGOs, including the influential Landless Workers’ Movement (MST) say is false." “What is even more disturbing is that this program’s emerging central position in the administration’s anti-poverty strategy has come because of a coordinated strategy of pressure by external agencies, namely the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank… What is even more disturbing is that this sum is being transferred from the budget of the National Food Authority (NFA), which is left with zero resources in 2011 as a result," Bello had explained. But during a press conference on Thursday, Bello said CCT will only be considered as a dole-out if it is not properly implemented. Explaining his change of mind, he described CCT as a poverty-containment program and not a poverty-reduction program. “Poverty containment is different from poverty reduction, and as far as we are concerned the poverty containment is crucial at this point to make," he said. Bello said he is still waiting for the poverty reduction program of the Aquino administration. He said the proposal now is to create a House special committee to oversee the implementation of the CCT, which in Akbayan’s view has some positive aspect. “The solution is not to cut off the program completely but make sure it is implemented properly," he said.
Other solons explain turnaround
Other members of the Lower House who signed both the anti-CCT manifesto and the pro-CCT resolution had their own different explanations.
In a text message to GMANews.TV, San Juan Rep. Ejercito who signed the anti-CCT manifesto on Wednesday said he also signed the pro-CCT resolution on Thursday just so there will be safety nets in case the CCT budget is approved. He said he was still not in favor of the CCT, but rather thereshould be an increase in the budget of state universities and colleges.
Agham Rep. Palmones agreed with Ejercito. “I signed the [pro-CCT] resolution knowing that the government is bent on pushing the P21-billion CCT program. It is a pro-active move just to make sure that the implementation will be monitored," Palmones said. For his part, Aurora Rep. Angara said the anti-CCT manifesto was just “an expression of fear or apprehension and that maybe government might consider diverting some funds towards education, given all the shortfalls and needs in this area." With more lawmakers supporting HR 529, Akbayan Rep. Bag-ao believed the chamber will approve the CCT program.
Irony of ironies? For her part, Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo also made her own turnaround, but in the opposite direction.
It was during her own presidency that the CCT was first defined and implemented.
But on Wednesday, Mrs. Arroyo and one of her two congressmen-sons signed the anti-CCT manifesto, calling the P21-billion CCT program as “ambitious and untimely." (See: Gloria, son Dato sign manifesto vs cash-transfer scheme)
On the same day, Arroyo also questioned the proposed 2011 budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which will serve as the lead agency in implementing the CCT.
DSWD Secretary Corazon “Dinky" Soliman, one of the staunchest proponents of the CCT scheme, had served as a member of Mrs. Arroyo’s Cabinet, also in the same post as she holds now. (See: Ex-Pres. Arroyo faces former friend at DSWD budget hearing)
DSWD budget might be tackled last
In related development, the Lower House on Thursday deferred discussing the DSWD budget to give way to other agencies. The DSWD budget will most likely be the last agency to be tackled Friday, Majority leader Neptali Gonzales II said in a text message to GMANews.TV. “Para ma-take-up namin other departments like the DILG, DOTC, and DepEd. Besides aabot talaga kami ng Friday kaya hinuli namin tomorrow," Gonzales said. (So we can take up other departments like the Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Transportation and Communication, and Department of Education. Besides, it will really take us up to Friday, so we saved it for last tomorrow.)—JV
