POE: DISASTER VICTIMS SHOULD BE 4Ps BENEFICIARIES

Sen. Grace Poe today proposed that slots in the government's conditional cash transfer (CCT) program be reserved for victims of disasters which hit hard the northern Luzon provinces.

Poe said at least five percent of the funded number of CCT beneficiaries per annum should be earmarked for victims of natural calamities like typhoons and floods.

"That means for every one million CCT enrollees, we are keeping 50,000 in reserve, for those who will be displaced in the future," Poe said.

Some P88 billion is allocated in the proposed 2019 budget for the cash transfer program, officially called the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

"As one of the most calamity-stricken countries in the world, these are predictable and regular displacements. Sabi nga nila, kailangan pa bang i-memorize 'yan?" Poe added.

Poe said automatically including typhoon victims in the list of the program will guarantee "regular and scheduled assistance" for calamity victims.

"Kaysa bigyan sila ng groceries paminsan-minsan, bakit hindi na lang gawing regular, organisado, at fixed ang time-frame ng ayuda? At kung pera ito, sila ang mag-desisyon kung ano ang mas higit na kailangan nila," Poe stressed.

But Poe said the poverty requirement observed in selecting regular 4Ps beneficiaries will also be followed in choosing disaster 4Ps recipients.

"Sila 'yung mahirap na nga, binagyo pa. Walang-wala na nga, minalas pa. Those who are poor to begin with are the most vulnerable when disaster strikes. These are the financially bankrupt. 'Yung kaunti ang ari-arian, inanod pa," Poe said.

"Ang pinakamalala ay 'yung mga taong bugbog sarado na ng kahirapan, sinira pa ang kagamitan at kabuhayan ng bagyo at baha," Poe lamented.

As to the duration of the cash transfer, Poe said it will depend on the actual needs and assessment of government officials assigned to evaluate. "Definitely, hindi forever. Dapat din may hangganan para naman matulungan 'yung iba."

"Dapat malinaw kung ano ang hangganan nito--kung bibigyan pa sila in the coming year. At least makakabawas iyan sa aalalahanin nila at pangalawa, mandato rin dapat ng gobyerno iyan na 'yung pera na nandiyan ay ipamahagi na agad," Poe explained.