MANILA, Philippines – President Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III's decision to continue giving cash aid for poor families across the country has come under fire from militant youth organizations.

The conditional cash transfer program launched under President Gloria-Macapagal Arroyo are only a “cheap public relations gimmick’ and do not solve poverty in the country, according to Anakbayan spokesperson Charisse Bañez.

She said in a press statement Friday that the dole-outs do not lead to creation of new jobs.

"There is no substitute for allocating adequate funding for social services" Bañez added.

Another left-wing youth group, the League of Filipino students, believes that monthly allowances for poor families in the country will not help them survive.

Terry Ridon, LFS national chairperson, cited Ibon Foundation data pegging the daily cost of living in the Philippines at P957 per day.

"Conditional cash transfers had proven to be nothing but a mere band-aid solution to our people's worsening poverty situation," Ridon added.

However, some poor families welcomed the cash aid.

“Malaking tulong po iyon, maaano ko ang pag-aaral ng anak ko, magpapasalamat ako kung matatanggap ako (It will be a big help, including allowing my children to go to school. I will be thankful If I receive it),” said Jenny Salvallion.

Her husband does not have a permanent job and the couple’s shanty was demolished recently.

“Dahil ilan ang anak ko, pandagdag sa pangangailan para may makain, may madede siya, (It will help feed my children),” she added.

According to Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, the aid program will help an estimated 2.3 million families across the country.

She said some recipients can get as much as P1,400 each monthly.

“Hindi ito dole-out dahil ito'y binibigay sa kondisyon na may ginagawa ang nagbe-benipisyo at iyon ang pagsisiguro na inaalagaan ang edukasyon at kalusugan (This is not a dole-out because it sets conditions on beneficiaries to ensure their education and health),” Soliman explained.

Families that can avail of aid from the Pantawid Pilipino Program must have children aged 6 to 14 years old who are enrolled in school and attend at least 85% of class hours; pregnant women must receive prenatal and postnatal care; children under 5 years of age must receive regular preventive health checkups and vaccinations; and children in elementary schools must receive deworming treatment at least twice a year.

The Asian Development Bank, which provided a loan for the program, believes that the conditions under which a family can qualify for aid will ensure that children of poor families will be healthy and stay in school.

Soliman said similar conditional cash transfer programs have been successfully implemented in other countries in South America.

She added that the aid package will only be temporary as the DSWD plans to provide livelihood training programs to poor families to help them start their own business.