The Impact of "Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program" on Ternatenos

Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a conditional cash transfer (CCT) program which provides cash to beneficiary households, subject to compliance with program conditionalities. The Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program is central to the Philippine government's poverty reduction and social protection strategy (Fernandez & Olfindo, 2011). This study aims to determine the impact of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) on the living conditions of the students who have families included on the program. in addition, the program assists the beneficiary households in improving their daily lives via financial assistance from the Philippine government. However, financial literacy as well as schema of the program are lacking on some beneficiary households as reflected from the study.

METHODS

Using mixed methods, this present study used a researcher-made questionnaire and face-to-face interview. The study was conducted to 50 students of Ternate West National High School -Ternate, Cavite with families as beneficiaries. The responses of the head of the family responses were gathered, recorded, tabulated, analyzed and interpreted.

RESULTS

The results showed that the living conditions of 32 families out of 50 sample beneficiary 4Ps households improved, mainly because of the additional income source from the government. The rest of the respondents attest that 4Ps made no difference in their living conditions. Furthermore, the cash was released on irregular schedules so once it was disbursed, it would be automatically spent to the necessary family expenditure. From the face to face interview, the respondents claimed that the cash grant was insufficient to support their families' needs. Italso revealed the importance of the students' participation in keeping their households to the program.

DISCUSSIONS

The study provides a number of important facts that should be considered by household respondents when discussing the impact of 4Ps. Moreover, the research can reinforce 4Ps implementation to the beneficiaries. It provides valuable insights for Philippine government and program leaders about the quality and reach of the program's services. It promises possibilities of increasing the cash grant to sufficiently address the needs of household beneficiaries.