Press Release
March 31, 2016

CHIZ SAYS AID TO CALAMITY VICTIMS MUST BE 'UNCONDITIONAL'

Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero has vowed a swift and unconditional distribution of government aid to victims of calamities under the "Gobyernong may Puso," if he and his presidential running mate Sen. Grace Poe win in the elections.

Escudero guaranteed this, as he lamented the "conditional" aid given by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD) to victims of Super Typhoon "Yolanda" in Central Philippines in 2013.

"Alam niyo po ang Tacloban tinamaan ng bagyong 'Yolanda.' May mga nasalanta rin, nawalan ng bahay, nawalan ng bangka, nasira ang pananim, namatayan ng nanay, ng tatay, ng kapatid, ng asawa o ng anak, pero wala sila sa listahan ng 4Ps," Escudero said referring to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the flagship program of the administration to fight poverty.

"Ang ginawa po ng gobyerno, hindi sila binigyan ng benepisyo, ang binigay sa kanila cash-for-work. Ano po ang ibig sabihin 'non?Bago sila tulungan matapos nilang masalanta ng bagyo, pinaglinis muna ng basura sa kalye, pinagbuhat muna ng bangkay ng mga taong namatay 'nung 'Yolanda,'" he told a mini-rally in Pangasinan Wednesday.

The top pick for vice president in various pre-election surveys thus vowed to push for the unconditional cash transfer (UCT) component of the human development project for victims of calamities, including farmers and fishermen, to help them get back on their feet without having to fulfill certain requirements in order to qualify for government aid.

"Kapagka ikaw ay nasalanta ng bagyo, dapat unconditional cash transfer na ang ibigay ng gobyerno. Walang kondisyon, diretsong tulong lamang dahil sino man sa inyo ang nasalanta ng bagyo, siyempre gustong makabangon muli. Hindi naman po pwedeng may kondisyon pa ang ibibigay sa inyo," he said.

The veteran lawmaker also blasted administration bets for treating the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program like funds coming from their own pockets.

"Ipinagkakalat ng aming mga katunggali na ang 4Ps daw o CCT ay hindi na matutuloy kapagka sila daw ay matalo sa eleksyon. Hindi po totoo 'yon. Hindi sila ang may-ari ng 4Ps. Hindi 'yon galing sa bulsa nila, galing 'yan sa buwis na binabayaran natin. Ipagpapatuloy namin ang 4Ps at dadagdagan pa namin," he said.

 Aside from the UCT component, Escudero is also pushing for the inclusion of a livelihood package for its beneficiaries if he wins the vice-presidential race in the May elections.

The CCT program gives out a monthly stipend of up to P1,400 to each family beneficiary provided their children regularly attend school and the mothers, if pregnant, seek pre- and post-natal care, as part of government's efforts to improve the health, nutrition and education of children from the poorest sector of society.

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