00:00Civil society organizations and budget watchdog groups urge senators to place safeguards in
00:06ayuda or social aid programs to prevent these from enabling patronage politics.
00:11In a Senate Finance Committee hearing, the People's Budget Coalition points out that
00:15insertions and funding for pork or patronage-based programs have increased over the years to around
00:20P256 billion. Instead of guaranteeing people's rights, these programs have turned citizens
00:27into clients and politicians into gatekeepers. People's Budget Coalition co-convener AJ Montesa
00:34says, examples of soft pork or ayuda programs such as the assistance to individuals in crisis
00:40situation of the Social Welfare Department, medical assistance to indigent and financially
00:45incapacitated patients of the Health Department, the Tulong Panghanap Buhay sa ating disadvantaged
00:50or displaced workers of the Labor Department, and the Tulong Dunong Program of the Commission
00:55on Higher Education. So although seemingly designed for assistance and relief,
01:00tinutulak ng mga programang ito ang mga Pilipino na mamalimos para sa kanilang
01:05karapatan sa kalusugan, edukasyon, at pampublikong tulong. At kadalasan, may kapalit po ito.
01:12Montesa however clarified that these programs still have potential to genuinely help Filipinos.
01:17He suggested setting clear mechanics and criteria for the distribution of aid as well as putting
01:22these programs in the hands of a capable government agency.
