Concerned Citizens’ group affirms World Bank’s CCT impact evaluation

Is it a rocket science that in order to improve child’s performance in school, a child needs to have a good health condition and parents are able to afford their education? I wish the present administration should prioritize Health and Education programs for Abrenians.

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BANGUED, Abra July 12 — On its recent report on Conditional Cash Transfer Program Watch Project, the Concerned Citizens of Abra for Good Government (CCAGG) concluded the goals of government to improve the conditions of the poor people in the country are achievable.

Its conclusion was based on various success indicators highlighted during a public forum in this capital town.

The results of the project suggest that improving the performance of the children beneficiaries in school and their good health condition, the ability of the parent beneficiaries to send their children to higher level of education, and the improving relationship of members in the household are good success indicators of the positive implementation of the CCT. The project said government will not achieve a 100 percent accomplishment of its goals but this is still significant.

The CCAGG validation results upheld the findings of the World Bank released March 1 this year. According to the World Bank report entitled “Philippines Conditional Cash Transfer Program, Impact Evaluation 2012,” the Pantawid Pamilya implementation is on track to achieve its objectives of promoting investments in the health and education of children while providing immediate financial support to poor families.

The CCAGG also recommended the incentive and disincentive, “carrot and stick” approach of the Pantawid Pamilya. The group pointed out that this approach is very effective in the supply and demand sides of the Program. Beneficiaries only earn maximum cash grants of P1, 400 monthly if they comply with the conditions of the CCT.

The CCT Program Watch Project results also challenged the criticism that CCT is merely a dole-out program. Despite the presence of pocket of incidents that the cash grants were not used properly, CCAGG asserted that CCT has encouraged more poor people to improve their living conditions and has provided more incentives to the grantees.

The Conditional Cash Transfer is implemented in all 17 regions nationwide (1,605 cities and municipalities in 79 provinces) with 3,851,691 household beneficiaries. In the Cordillera Administrative Region, there are 56,453 CCT household beneficiaries of which 11,593 are from the province of Abra.

Meanwhile, CCAGG also recommends the Department of Social Welfare and Development allow Parent Leaders to conduct and manage the Family Development Sessions (FDS) of the Program.

This recommendation emerged from the Community-Based Leadership Seminar conducted February this year with 40 parent leaders present from the municipalities of Dolores, Pilar, Sallapadan, and Daguioman. The seminar produced promising results demonstrating that parent leaders are possible change agents in their communities and not only as point persons of the Program.

The Philippines is the only country with CCT Program that introduced and incorporated FDS in the Program’s implementation. It is a monthly session where parent beneficiaries learn various lessons such as good parenting, active citizenship, money saving, and other valuable topics for them to apply in their respective households and community.

The Conditional Cash Transfer Program Watch Project was funded by Partnership Transparency Fund (PTF) and was represented during the forum by Dr. Shomikho Raha. PTF is an international organization that supports citizens against corruption.

Also present during the forum were DSWD staff led by CCT Regional Program Coordinator Irene O. Bungay. Parent leaders of Pantawid Program in Abra were also present to share their views on the project’s findings.

CCAGG is an organization that monitors implementation of programs and projects of the elected officials and government instruments. It also organizes communities and helps in citizenship building. (JDP/Jomel Anthony V. Gutierrez-DSWD CAR)