An Assessment on the Functionality of the Local Advisory Committee in Relation to the Institutional Arrangement of the Conditional Cash Transfer Program in Pasay City

Abstract

This study aims to assess the functionality of the Local Advisory Committee (LAC) being part ofthe institutional arrangement in the implementation of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in Pasay. This was measured by identifying the extent of involvement of participants of LAC in terms of monitoring, coordination, problem-solving, strategic planning, feedback mechanism functions of the committee and various factors such as demographic profile, level of awareness, commitment, and accountability of participants. The study reveals that member stakeholders of the committee still prioritize their currentroles and responsibilities with their respective offices despite their claims that they have an engagement to the program, which found to be relative to moderately high. This finding results to non-attendance and irregular attendance of department heads to committee meetings and occasional participation of their representatives to the functions of LAC. Because of this, unclear roles and responsibilities to the program by member stakeholders have been observed. Statistical results support this observation where factors such as awareness and accountability influence the involvement of member stakeholders in terms of monitoring, coordination, and strategic planning functions of the committee. Further, member agencies are bounded by the fiscal limitations of their offices that result in the inability of the partner agencies to include CCT activities in their respective plans. One apparent reason is the nature of their agency’s mandate, which does not have direct services offered or at times do not match with theCCT program. Given these findings, it is being recommended that the passage of local ordinance be lobbied to Sangguniang Panglungsod of Pasay for the improved LAC of CCT with the following considerations: enhancement of roles and responsibilities of member agencies and CSOs of LAC as well as inclusion of these expected roles and responsibilities of member agencies to their individual performance contract so as to strengthen accountability mechanisms; provision of incentives to its member agencies chargeable against existing LGU fund to increase participation and improve quality of their performance. Together with this, the DSWD may establish symbolic rewards to LGUs with performing LAC to generate active engagement of involved stakeholders. An in-depth orientation about the CCT program may also be considered especially with department heads and representatives.