4Ps official hopeful incoming ‘leftist’ welfare secretary to continue dole program

By GERALD LEIGH LAQUINON,
Correspondent

An official of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps in northern Mindanao on Monday expressed confidence that the incoming “leftist” social welfare secretary will continue the government’s conditional dole program.

Oliver B. Inodeo, Pantawid Pamilya Information Officer of the Department of Social Welfare and Development 10, believes that Dr. Judy Taguiwalo’s appointment as DSWD secretary under President-elect Rodrigo Duterte can further improve 4Ps even with her pronouncement to review the program.

“We hope for the best, though changes are normal in every transition of leadership, but we are hopeful that Taguiwalo’s study of the program can even improve its implementation,” said Inodeo.

Inodeo added they are not afraid that their incoming head descends from the militant block since “as progressives, they have been working in the field ever since with their own constituents, thus working with them gives check and balance.”

Taguiwalo earlier poin-ted out that while the go-vernment’s conditional dole program will continue, it is still a temporary solution to the rooted problem of poverty in the country.

Saying that it is only a “bridging program” to assist the “poorest of the poor” until they find sustainable sources of income, Tagui-walo said the incoming administration will fix the loopholes in the program to address effectively to those who needed it the most.

“What we want to look at is the implementation. There are reports of selectivity. Not everyone who really needs the program are being reached. There is still an element of patronage there. We also want to check if it is being used to campaign as well as used for anti-insurgency,” she said.

Inodeo, however, said their regional field office has been transparent in the implementation of 4Ps and that its positive outcome is readily verifiable through its beneficiaries in the area.

Taguiwalo, a professor at the University of the Philippines, is among the short list of nominees of the Communist Party of the Philippines to fill cabinet seats offered by Duterte to the “left.”

With her, are former Anakpawis Representatives Rafael Mariano as Department of Agrarian Reform secretary and Joel Maglungsod as Department of Labor and Employment undersecretary.

Duterte has yet to appoint someone for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) secretary post and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) which he earlier reserved also for the “left.”