Daang matuwid coalition chides Poe on CCT

MANILA, Philippines - The Koalisyon ng Daang Matuwid (Straight Path Coalition) yesterday chided Sen. Grace Poe for expressing support for the administration’s conditional cash transfer program despite her supposed failure to help push for its approval. 

Coalition spokesman and Akbayan Rep. Ibarra Gutierrez said Poe did not support the program when the administration was still promoting it for Senate approval.

“She did not do anything for the approval of the 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) in the Senate. To my knowledge, she has not authored any of the bills seeking to institutionalize the 4Ps program. She claims that she voted for the inclusion of 4Ps in the budget, well, so did every other senator and over 250 congressmen,” Gutierrez said.

He stressed that the only basis for testing Poe’s sincerity is her record. 

“I understand why she’s trying to be ‘pro-4Ps’ now – it’s a popular program and one of the key initiatives under daang matuwid. But she shouldn’t pretend to be a dedicated advocate for it when her record doesn’t support it,” Gutierrez added.

He noted that the lawmaker, who is eyeing the presidency, had rejected their invitation to join the effort to sustain the Aquino administration’s straight path policy.  

“She did not accept the invitation to join Daang Matuwid. It’s easy to talk but we can see who is really doing something. Propaganda becomes clearer through actions,” the spokesman said in Filipino. 

The administration coalition initially tried to convince Poe to run as vice president of Liberal Party presidential bet Manuel Roxas II but the senator refused and decided instead to seek the presidency. 

Earlier, Poe said she would continue the 4Ps program if she wins the presidency. She also branded as “black propaganda” the allegations that she would discontinue the program, which provides cash incentives to families who send their children to school and avail themselves of state health services.