KORONADAL, Philippines – Secretary Corazon Dinky Soliman may lack the heated support from other groups demanding her resignation but she has the support of thousands of people in the region.

People covered by the country’s conditional cash transfer program extended their support to Secretary Soliman, it would be a big loss in the agency if she quits.

Last week, a group of victims of Supertyphoon “Yolanda” (international name: Haiyan) is demanding the secretary’s resignation after the Commission on Audit reported that food packs worth P2.7 million were lost to spoilage because of improper handling, the alleged P5 billion in conditional cash transfer funds not liquidated by PhilPost, among others.

“She already explained about the reported improper handling of goods. Leader like her is what we need,” said Melanie Solidad of Surallah, South Cotabato.

For Farmer Johnny Tolentino of T’boli, South Cotabato, the implementation of CCT in the region went smoothly under the leadership.

In 2009, Tolentino was among the poorest of the poor in the DSWD’s list of CCT beneficiaries. He said the cash grant he received that year helped him send his children to school at the time when the family was barely surviving.

In 2011, Tolentino’s break came when they heard about the P10, 000 loan for CCT beneficiaries. From a half-a-hectare parcel of land of their wealthy neighbour, he used the money to finance their vegetable garden, earning about Php 300,000 from his first harvest.

“Our story is a living testimony. I think if there are problems concerning DSWD implementation in other areas, there are reasons for that,” he said.

Bai Zorahayda T. Taha, DSWD 12 regional director, said more than 5,000 people are expected to converge in Koronadal City on September 28, 2014 to express their support to Secretary Soliman and to promote “Kaya ko Campaign”, a crusade featuring the success of people under CCT. (End)