Mr. Aquino will expand and reform CCT programs The Manila Times Thursday, 10 June 2010 00:00 YESTERDAY’s press conference immediately after the proclamation of President-elect Noynoy Aquino was a demonstration of his mastery of the national condition. All his answers—in perfect English and sometimes Tagalog—were impressively those of a person who knows how our country fares in the key departments of life. One of the questions touched on poverty. Responding, he spoke of the Arroyo administration’s successful CCT (conditional cash transfers) program. Cash is given to the very poor—by the Social Welfare department. But DSWD does not touch the money. Recipients go to the Land Bank. These are dole outs to the “targeted absolutely poor”—families who need cash so they can have food on their table and some of their basic necessities for survival. There are conditions to being included in the program. The family must fulfill the basic duties of going to a health clinic for treatment. Toddlers a...