Drilon in hot seat over CCT defense By Angie M. Rosales 12/01/2010

Drilon in hot seat over CCT defense

By Angie M. Rosales 12/01/2010

The proposed P21-billion conditional cash transfer (CCT) program of the Aquino administration in the 2011 national appropriations bill is wanted slashed by some senators who remain doubtful about the so-called absorptive capacity of the implementing agency, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“I will suggest to the bicam (bicameral conference committee level) that we lower it. So if that’s possible, we’ll leave P6 billion to P7 billion, we can put that back in agriculture, infrastructure, all of the other budgets that were cut,” said Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., chairman of the local governments as well as urban planning committee.

Marcos, in interpellating yesterday the chairman of the finance committee Sen. Franklin Drilon for almost an hour on the proposed P34.5-billion DSWD budget, a 123 percent increase in the current year’s budget, underscored the fact that he is not against the program, per se.

But he raised concerns over the mishandling, even abuse in carrying out the huge amount of funds for the dole-out program, a matter also shared by a number of other senators, including some considered close allies of Malacañang..... MORE

Source:  The Daily Tribune

URL: http://www.tribuneonline.org/headlines/20101201hed2.html