WHILE it may not be considered as “universal cure”, a lawmaker from Oriental Mindoro said the P21-billion Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program of the Department of Social Welfare could jumpstart and put the poverty alleviation mission of the Aquino administration on the right track.

“May kasabihan nga na huwag mong bigyan ng isda pero turuan mong mangisda pero may mga sector ng lipunan na kahit anong turo mo ay di matututo dahil walang laman ang tiyan,” said Oriental Mindoro 2nd District Rep. Reynaldo Umali.

“Hindi nga universal cure o paradigm ang CCT pero maganda itong simula sa iba pang poverty alleviation programs ng pamahalaan,” he added.

Umali said the CCT program is one of the “people-centered programs” of the Aquino government to uplift the lives of the marginalized sector as promised by the Chief Executive.

“Marami nang programa ang mga nagdaang gobyerno pero mas maganda ito dahil direkta ang tulong sa publiko sa pamamagitan ng doleouts na may kondisyon,” the lawmaker explained.

Also, the CCT program would not be a source of corruption as the fund would go directly to the needy.

Rep. Umali is confident that the P21 billion allocated for the program will not be touched by their Senate counterparts.

“Umaasa ako na wala nang magbabago sa halaga dahil suportado ito ng mayorya sa Kamara at palagay ko, naiintindihan din ng ating mga kasama sa Senado ang programa ng Pangulo,” Umali said.

Rep. Umali also announced that the House has approved on 2nd reading early Saturday morning the P1.645-trillion reform budget for 2011 submitted by President Aquino.

“Hopefully, maipapasa na natin iyan sa 3rd and final reading pagbalik ng sesyon natin sa Nov. 8,” Umali said.

The lawmaker explained that the poverty alleviation, education and health have been given priority in the budget.