The Prelude of the CCT in the Future

Part of the requirement in one of my major subject is to conduct a case study about relevant issues that we are facing today. Though it is not a dashing case study. In fact, our professor limits the pages into the 10 maximum pages. Since I know that it will not be sufficient in presenting my case I approached him and ask if I can exceed. His glorious face shines like a meteor and said, yes!

The Genesis

It was the eve of Valentine’s Day when two columns from Philippine Star sprawled throughout the Metropolis and cyberspace. These columns were written by Bobit Avila and Luis Teodoro criticizing the government particularly the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for failing to (1) rigorously monitor the CCT program and (2) allegation of possible corruption. The synthesis and their line of argument is based on the latest Social Weather Station Survey propounding that the 27.5% unemployment rate remain unchanged since 2006. The Logic guess like this, that base on the statistics the unchanged unemployment rate from 2006 to 2013 is a sign of failure of the Conditional Cash Transfer Program whereby billions of pesos were supposedly given to the poorest of the poor to alleviate their plight. On my personal judgement, maybe they have a point on some part… but measuring the success or failure of a national program by mere unchanged unemployment rate is not just weak but also an ambitious proposition.

I considered some of their criticism against the conditional cash transfer which i find sound like their criticism on the programs efficiency and effectiveness in achieving its objectives among others which falls into these two standpoints:

First, the Avila’s supposition from the line of his writing that there exist a chance of beneficiaries’ total dependence to the state as the conditional cash transfer program cuddle them to develop their sense of reliance and dependence rather than plodding to strive by their own efforts. This I think is a query on the effectiveness of the program. This assertion is a shebang. It opens a virgin territory of study on how value play an important part on seeking the behavior of the beneficiaries on the context of spending the financial assistance they are receiving from CCT.

The second standpoint goes from Teodoro’s skepticism and concern on sustainability which is a query on efficiency. Taking my thesis that for a program to be efficient, it must be sustainable,  I chose to a play with sustainability issue rather than delving into a-posteriori examination of the funds perceived predestined road to corruption by settling the focus on sustainability concern where I strive to examine the initiative of the local government specifically the barangay on how they keep an “active” participation and “involvement” on the implementation of the program.

 I started my case study by posting two questions:

1. How extent does the conditional cash transfer program affects the Filipino values?

2. Taking the local government experience with the conditional cash transfer program, what are the initiative of the barangay to ensure a proactive involvement?

The aim of the first question is to attain the purpose of understanding of the beneficiaries’ reception to the CCT program in the context of their values. Examining the values of the beneficiaries is important because it gives a prelude of what will possibly happen after the termination of the program since the value sterns individual’s present action and possible action in the future. It serves as anticipatory element for the futures victory or defeat of the program and the beneficiaries.

The second question has something to do with the institution (in my study, the barangay). It seeks to examine the initiative of the local government in the operation of the program and their reception of this responsibility. Does the barangay keeps an active participation and involvement like guiding the beneficiaries in spending the financial assistance up to sustainability measures by ensuring that the conditions of the program is not just fully accomplished but the beneficiaries is also prepared to take responsibility of providing for their family after the CCT?

The first dilemma that I encountered in the study is answering the question number 1. It is painstakingly hard since one has to posit specification of values.
What do I mean when I say Filipino Value? How can I qualify a value from another set of values?

In order to analyze Filipino values, it must be looked, one, from the standpoint of the “within” or panloob [inward-looking]. The first pressure of the study is to create linkages of different Filipino values. Taking Fr. Gorospe’s notion that a Filipino value or disvalue does not exist alone, in isolation or in a vacuum; the Filipino values are linked and clustered around with various core values. Somehow it produced confusion on my part. So in my study, I adopted the Serafin Talisayon’s way on clustering the Filipino values where he puts every specific Filipino traits into a collective scheme which creates a larger picture of values which he calls macro-clusters.

When we think of our values, Schwartz says, we think of what is important to in our lives. Thus, every cluster is a summation of what matters most to Filipinos. Taking from this standpoint, the study will focus on the beneficiaries’ values under the context of the following clusters:

1. Relationship cluster

This cluster is limited to the koinonia or being interrelated or oriented within the confine of family which seeks to illuminate aspects of family relations under the umbrella of the Filipino family character. The study on this cluster seeks to understand the role of the conditional cash transfer program on strengthening or weakening the family relations, solidarity, and reliance against life challenges.

2. Social cluster

The focus of this cluster is the integration of Filipino values towards the perfection of the community which is the idea of “common unity.” This part seeks to illuminate linkages of how the conditional cash transfer program affect the social level or for the purpose of my paper the “Tayo Level”. Does the CCT have a “unifier effect” or “disassembling” to the beneficiaries and the community?

3. Livelihood cluster

This cluster is important because it posts questions on entrepreneurial and sustainability capability of the beneficiaries. How they willed themselves towards effort of spending the financial assistance as business capital or investments where they can earn their own money and be self-sustaining.

4. Inwardness cluster

Inwardness is a “feeling” which involves the inward preoccupation of something which cannot be measured numerically but can be determined through precise line of questioning related but not limited to questions of state and condition of the beneficiaries’ “self” Sine qua non to the realization of life prior and during the program. Since the very nature of Inwardness is introspection or knowing the “self”, answers from the beneficiaries are what I call “subjective illumination” or how they describe it from their own words and thoughts. In general this deals with the CCT’s effect on the “self” of the beneficiaries.

5. Optimism cluster

This cluster is a collection of traits that leans towards the tendency of expecting the best positive outcome on the most hopeful aspect of a situation. Since the CCT gives hope, it is also proper to examine the optimism it gives to the beneficiaries. It seeks to examine how the conditional cash transfer program changed the beneficiaries’ outlook in the future and how the program boost or weakens their optimism.

Taking a leap on the river full of uncertainties

In order to immerse myself in the study of CCT, without certainty, I chose four barangays in Siniloan, Laguna as my playground. With are my friends who were also there to conduct other study in other subject (I really thank them who brought a lot of patience and understanding for me in doing this) we traveled to Siniloan, Laguna at night. We reached Bay, Laguna at almost 12 midnight. We stayed and sleep in Cheska’s aunt’s house who were very kind and accommodating to us. I slept with Paolo, we were on the same bed but nothing happened (My major heartbreak) as we watched the cat on the ceiling and pained our ears from the madness of Joy Ann’s thunderous  snore at 2 AM which ceased hour before daybreak. The night were lonely. The stars and moonlight are restless above the sky and my fingers were cold. I’ve been searching for you in many places which I know that you are not there. But I constantly seek you on edges and diverted roads hoping you will surface. It was my sudden realization that Manila is happier at night because night covers our exhaustion and our woundedness from possible defeat and neglect.

The next morning I jog on the middle of the street with the morning breeze panning on my face and boys and the young men were staring at me with amazement on their face.

It is a peaceful life.

At 10AM we embark and started our journey to Siniloan, Laguna. It is an hour drive from Bay. The roads are long and it is never-ending. In Siniloan, I met four women beneficiaries of the CCT. They shared their stories and open a glimpse on how they face the challenge of the CCT. I also met five barangay officials from four barangays in Siniloan and they also shares their reception on CCT.

These are their stories

1. Relationship

My game face is On and Dolores Casucian in a very defensive position

Dolores Casucian has been a CCT beneficiary for less than a year now. Out of her five children, only one is registered as CCT beneficiary. The family is receiving a total of Php 1,600 every two months which is Php 26.66 a day allowance which will never be enough to support the daily needs of her family. Dolores is like other beneficiaries- a typical example of a family struggling to make both ends meet. My objective in presenting her case leans towards the possibility of significant changes the CCT brought to the relationship of her family during the program and what has been its positive effect in the relationship they have as a family.

On my interview wit her, she shares that all financial aid she receives goes directly for the needs of her children. When she was asked if the money she receive is enough for the two month period, she said that it will never be enough. On my follow-up question when I asked her if the family has savings, her answer is none. It seems to me that Dolores does not anticipate the future. It is unclear to her to where will the family go after the CCT. All throughout our conversation, the question of sustainability lingers. It seems that Dolores is uncertain to what might be the future brings especially after termination of the program.

My theory is that the uncertainty of the beneficiaries, like what Dolores is experiencing is brought up by the failure of the major players to educate the beneficiaries on their responsibility in making sure that the program is sustainable for the beneficiaries by teaching them how to optimize the money for a potential capital in business and not solely for spending purposes.

Someone might ask how important is sustainability in the Relationship value cluster? I will say that sustainability is important to a family because it has a direct effect in the security and the harmonization of the relationship of the family. The more the family is sustainable the greater the sense of harmony they have. I believe that in every situation, a family should attain the level of capacity to support its basic needs by their own efforts and not by being dependent to anyone else- this Dolores and her family haven’t reached yet.

Dolores has no sense of security for her family in the long run. She is only dependent on what is has today and lacks the plan and preparedness for what tomorrow might bring. She embodies the negative Filipino philosophy of kung ano dataring (come what may) that has been evident in her answers when she asked if she has savings, her answer is none. When she was asked what she does with the money? Her answer is she spends it all. That makes her complain that the money she is getting is never and will never be enough because her case is a total spending without investing.

Since Dolores Casucian is a resident of Brgy. General Luna I also need to examine how the barangay plays their role in the CCT. What I learned is that the implementation of CCT in Barangay General Luna is veiled with the shadow of doubt regarding the genuine and eligible beneficiaries. Dolores shares to me an intrigue that in her barangay there are issues of mis-identification of beneficiaries. Dolores assertion that there are unworthy beneficiaries and some who were suppose to qualify given their circumstance are not qualified because the selection it totally depends on the DSWD in the municipal level.

The Barangay Chairman of General Luna, Hon. Felix San Francisco admits that he has no direct involvement in the Conditional Cash Transfer Program

On my interview with the barangay chairman Hon. Felix San Francisco, he honestly admitted to me that his barangay has no direct involvement in the implementation and monitoring of the Conditional Cash Transfer program. He said that the barangay did not receive a mandate from the DSWD and municipality to be one of the player in the program. When I asked him if it is right, he answered no.  San Francisco said that he believes the barangay, as the smallest unit of the government should partake into this effort. When I asked him upon learning this on what will be his own initiative to monitor the program. He said that they will look into it and consider it as an agenda of the barangay. But as of the moment, there is no clear programs, initiatives, plans, and activities regarding their proactive role in the conditional Cash transfer program.

 2 Social

Nory Deloy is a peculiar case of how can be the conditional cash transfer program a potent cause of the negative Filipino trait of inggitan (envy) and kanya-kanya (selfcenteredness)

Nory Deloy is the source of envy in Brgy. Bagumbayan because she is the only beneficiary of the Conditional Cash Transfer program in the entire barangay.

Nory Deloy has been a source of intrigue of some people in the barangay including the barangay secretary, Maria Lisa Realesa. The intrigue started when she was named as the beneficiary of the Conditional Cash Transfer program- the only beneficiary of the CCT in Brgy. Bagumbayan. Upon mentioning the case of Nory Deloy, the Brgy. Secretary has been so furious in mentioning that Nory served as a former barangay councilor and on that same time she was awarded as beneficiary of the program. During my conversation with Maria Lisa, she mention that the barangay has nothing to do with monitoring the beneficiaries more so; with the case of Nory as the only beneficiary. Maria Lesa even mentioned that there might be an alleged influencing to the DSWD in the municipal level given the circumstances of Nory’s past position in the barangay.

I treated portion of Maria Lesa’s interview untouched from her capacity as the barangay secretary but more in giving emphasis to her as a person who also wants to be a beneficiary of the CCT, but fails to. Since Nory is the only beneficiary of the program, she is often the source of envy of the people and aggravated to the circumstances that she was a former barangay councilor. Their inference is that Nory has an advantage over them. Thus, creating a shadow of intrigue over her being a qualified beneficiary.

The Conditional Cash Transfer program bridge our value as a people often positive like solidarity and fraternity but in this peculiar case, a negative trait of envy. Nory Deloy is a victim of the negative Filipino trait of inggitan (envy). Upon asking Nory on how the barangay monitors her, her answer is a cold nothing because she is the only beneficiary. She has been sidetracked by the muffling system of inggitan which eventually develop into a negative Filipino value of kanya-kanya (self-centeredness) shown on the barangay’s action when they left it all alone to Nory by creating a lessee faire relationship against her. The barangay, based on my interview with its secretary has no effort to monitor her and her children if they meet the conditionals of the program.

Studying this case of the CCT, it goes beyond the scope of both the barangay and the DSWD- the coagulation of tension from the beneficiaries and those who were rejected to be a beneficiary. It is a tendency to anyone to examine their situation and with their own biases defend them against being rejected often citing legitimate beneficiaries as better of than them. This process often result to the development of envy and the weakening of moral fiber as a Filipino.

3  Livelihood

Me with Maria Socorro Flomangaya one of the benificiaries of CCT in
Brgy Pandeño (her son is her private army)

Maria Socorro Flomangaya is a solo parent of six children. Her husband is in prison with a case that she refused to disclose. She has no stable job and has no business ventures that would sustain her with a stable income for her children. According to her, she sells spring rolls but upon accessing her home, a small termite-d box that would roughly fits six people, there’s no evident equipment or stall for her business. After the interview, she disclosed that one of her major source of income is jueteng. She is a small-scale jueteng collector in their barangay. It gives an impression that aside from the conditional cash transfer program which gives her Php 2200.00 every two months, which would gives her a daily allowance of Php 36.66, an amount which is very impossible to sustain the daily need of a family of seven. She resort to another source of income and it is the illegal world of jueteng.

In her case, I saw two evident problems. First, is her alarming passivity to exert efforts to be sustainable post-CCT. During my interview, I asked her if what she does when she receives the financial assistance from CCT. She answered that she buys a huge amount of rice and saves portion for daily allowances of her children for school. It is clear based on her buying pattern that she spends the financial assistance without any intention to maximize the money for business capital that would eventually radiates to possible financial liberation. It is logical to assume that she has no plan to use it for business. On my follow-up question, I asked her why is that she doesn’t use the money for business?  She answered that it is not the purpose of the money. She believes as they were taught to, that the money is for her children and not intended for a business capital.

It has been clear to me that there is a problem in relying information by the DSWD on the municipal level. They educate the beneficiaries that the purpose of the money is solely for spending and not for investment which directly negates the purpose of the Conditional Cash Transfer Program in reducing poverty through sustainable means. The sustainability and growth objective of CCT will never be materialized because the municipal DSWD educates the beneficiary like Maria Socorro that the money they receive from 4Ps cannot be, and should not be a start for a business capital.

The second problem in Socorro’s case is her lack of will to advance and of her apathetic attitude towards their condition. She is a case of educational deprivation and lack of the capacity to be innovative and sustainable in life. She waddled the negative Filipino traits of bahala na (come what may) or the dependence of the uncertain tomorrow. She lacks the plan and proper motivation in life and waits to what to come. From there deal with it without zeal and dint to beam up away from poverty.

Maria Socorro Flomangaya lives in Brgy. Pandeño. To take the side of the barangay, I separately interviewed officials from Brgy.Pandeño. Mr. Lauro Villanueva, the current barangay secretary and Hon. Janet Ramos Carandang who is the current barangay chairman.

It is very hard for me to interview Mr. Lauro Villanueva because is a the man of fewest words.

Chairman Janet Ramos Carandang of Barangay Pandeño with her game eyebrow on. Kidding! She’s a very nice woman. I felt her fire for service but not in the context of CCT where she remains cold.

During my conversation with them it shows that the they have no direct intervention in the implementation of the Conditional Cash Transfer Program. Sec. Lauro Villanueva says that the CCT is the scope of municipal level and not the barangay level. Hon. Janet Carandang said that the barangay does not intrude in the implementation of the program because the municipal DSWD has no endorsement of any form to task them to monitoring or any similar task. However, the role of the barangay in CCT is just limited to noting the beneficiaries and insuring the DSWD that they are legitimate resident of the barangay.

Upon learning from this, I asked Hon. Carandang to what will be the barangay’s initiative in the implementation of the Conditional Cash Transfer program in her jurisdiction, she coldly answers that there will be none. “It is hard to intervene, if you are not supposed to intervene” she told me.

Taking from that standpoint of its officials, it is vivid that Brgy. Pandeño has no proactive intervention and linkage to the implementation of the Conditional Cash Transfer program. It is clear that the barangay left the burden and responsibility to monitor the program to the LGU in the municipal level and maintains a loose relationship to it slaying the possibility of a proactive relations where the barangay remains cold.

4 Inwardness and Optimism

Roselle Laynes is a laundry-maid and her husband works in a distant factory. She has three children and all of them are beneficiaries of the CCT. She said during our conversation that life prior to the CCT has been hard, they struggle to eat a complete meal three times a day. The major role of the CCT for them is it provides them the immediate needs for food and assists them in the financial needs of their children in school. When she was asked on how the CCT changed her outlook in life, she said that it positively changed the way she looks for the future.

I think the positive change that Roselle Laynes and her family experiencing is brought out by the circumstances that there is an available money to spend every time needs surfaces. They doesn’t need to toil on the agony of waiting and worrying how to get money. The conditional Cash Transfer program brings the sense of security in Roselle’s life, “hindi na ako nangangamba” (I am not fearful anymore). CCT boosts her confidence to the point of being secured and having the positive outlook to face the future.

However, the Php 1,400 every two months financial assistance will never be enough for the entire family. It has been the same question of sustainability. Like Maria Socorro, Roselle Laynes and her family is also taught by the DSWD that the money cannot be an investment for a business venture. In response, Roselle spends it all for the needs of her children and family. DSWD’s orients the beneficiaries on the importance of the health and education of the children but fails to remind the beneficiaries to plan and plan sustainability measures after CCT.

The effect of conditional cash transfer program on Roselle Laynes inwardness and optimism is directly related on the sustainability of the program. The problem is that the Conditional Cash transfer program is geared by the DSWD in the municipal level to attain the short-term goal which is to provide for the immediate need of the family which does not give financial liberation and security to the beneficiaries. I can easily infer that in this period Roselle Laynes is positive and confident for the future because she just received the financial assistance but this cannot rule out the possibility to flux or more so, change and retreat to what it was prior to the CCT when her lack of vision to the future constrict her to face the same struggle they had in the past.

On the level of involvement of the barangay Buhay, it has plays an active but minimal role in the implementation of the Conditional Cash Transfer program only limited to the level of meeting the health conditional by tasking the Barangay Health Workers (B.H.W) to regularly monitor the beneficiaries if they meet the minimum twice a month check-ups of the children. The Barangay Health Workers pays a surprise visit to beneficiaries to check if the family is going well. This is the initiative of the barangay Chairman Roberto Valdenarro Jr. to account the beneficiaries if they are fulfilling the health conditionals by decentralizing the duty to monitor, but such monitoring doesn’t reach a proactive partnership of the beneficiaries and the barangay towards collective development.

Barangay Buhay Chairman Roberto Valdenarro Jr. while discussing the role of the barangay in the implementation of the Conditional Cash Transfer program

It is good that they have their own effort towards the beneficiaries but taking the standpoint of an observer, the barangay must work harder to integrate the community to attain the “common unity” level of every barangay that will stir them towards development.

Realizations

In studying the value of the beneficiaries it was never been certain. And to tell you honestly, in my reflections as I turn in the paper, I sometimes doubt if I really hit the target or I just merely share the stories of these women and barangays all throughout the pages. During the study I learned that the diversity on the values of the beneficiaries with respect to each cluster series they are aligned to are dependent in one common factor, the sustainability factor of the CCT.

Take for example the case of Dolores Casucian, her certainty and security and harmonization of the relationship in her family depends on how sustainable is the CCT to them. The Case of Nory Deloy as a sole beneficiary in Brgy. Bagumbayan and her relationship to the society depend upon how the CCT is integrated and sustainable to others who are not beneficiaries. In the case of Maria Socorro Flomangaya, her value towards livelihood has been dependent to how the Conditional Cash Transfer program is sustainable in her family and in the case of Roselle Laynes, her optimism and outlook in life depends upon the span of time she has available money from CCT- a challenge for her on how to optimize what she’s receiving from the program.

Since the CCT is not sustainable to Dolores Casucian, there is a potent threat in the security and hindrance towards the harmony of her family. Since Nory Deloy is the only beneficiary in Barangay Bagumbayan she has been the source of envy by the community. Since the CCT has not been sustainable to Maria Socorro Flomangaya she develops the Filipino value of Bahala Na or the dependence to the uncertain tomorrow and resort towards illegal gambling activities. In the same way, since the CCT is not sustainable to Roselle Laynes, her outlook and optimism is uncertain.

Throughout my study, I discovered that the status quo of the CCT program in four barangays is not sustainable for the beneficiaries. The problem I saw was presented into two faces. One is the DSWD in the municipal level as it fails to truly present the spirit of the program which is to meet human development goal and one of it is sustainability. The DSWD in the Municipality of Siniloan taught all the beneficiaries during their orientations that the money they will be receiving is for spending purposes limited only to the needs of the children and food for the family with posting restriction that the money cannot be used for business capital or investment. All the four beneficiaries affirm such pronouncement. Because of this limitation, all the beneficiaries who were interviewed are not sustainable. Second is the traditional bureaucratic character of the barangay as it lacks the innovation and the will to be involved and carry an initiative of proactive involvement in the implementation of the program. They never realize that the CCT can be a vehicle towards community development by empowering the beneficiaries to invest and venture in business.

I said in to my report that maybe the prelude for the future of the program is possibly failure on the part of the beneficiary and the government because as of this moment, there is no long-term positive change on the values of the beneficiaries as it continues to propel in flux. There is also no clear indication of possible sustainability measures from the beneficiaries and the efforts to change this pronouncement from the implementing agencies like DSWD.

My second point is out of four barangays that were subject of my study, three barangays (Brgys. Panadeno, Bagumbayan, and General Luna) has total disconnection to the monitoring and implementation of the Conditional Cash transfer program. The brgy. Buhay on the other hand shows an intervention but only limited to assuring that the health conditionals has been met but regarding on sustainability concern the barangay has also no direct involvement.

I was really surprised that the barangay officials from these barangays have no proactive role in the program. The barangay should have an active participation as mandated by the Local Government Code of 1991 under operation principle of decentralization which states:

(g) The capabilities of local government units, especially the municipalities and Barangays, shall been enhanced by providing them with opportunities to participate actively in the implementation of national programs and projects.

On the part of the barangay, they argued that the DSWD in Siniloan, Laguna did not endorse the program to them. Taking this argument, the DSWD directly violates the project context and development plan of the CCT. Idealistically, the DSWD, is tasked to institutionalize a monitoring scheme in the implementation of its program with the local government units. LGU which includes the barangay. This arrangement is vital in ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability of the program as it assures that it truly reached the community.

More than that, according to the development plan of the Conditional Cash transfer program which was adopted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the municipal advisory committee is organized at the local government unit level and serves to link overall implementation of the program at the municipal level down to the barangays. The purpose of the committee is to enhance coordination and implementation of services at the LGU level and likewise, enhances LGUs and partner agencies’ ownership of the project.

It has been clear in my case study that the DSWD through its municipal advisory committee fails to comply with this mandate. Furthermore, on the part of the barangay, they also fail to meet the mandate of the Local Government Code because it is evident that there is no genuine effort to move the matter on their judgement even that the matter was not endorse to them. On the question of the initiative of the barangay to ensure transparency, accountability and sustainability on the implementation of the CCT program, the answer is a blunt cold none.

On a very personal note, the whole study is a heartbreak (well aside from me and Paolo’s waste of night).  It was my face to face encounter to a very weak coordination and incompetent implementation of the program from the barangay and DSWD municipal level and in some point on the carelessness and passivity of  the beneficiaries. I wish them luck.

Many thanks to these people for the patience, tolerance, and understanding. Thank you also to Daca’s mama for our dinner. Paano ulit niluto ang adobo?
(PS. Proxy si Camille ni Daca)