Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program: Challenges and Benefits to the Student’s

Beneficiaries at San Francisco National High School

Government Agency: Department of Social Welfare and Development

Program: Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s)

Description: The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is a human development measure

of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor, to

improve the health, nutrition, and the education of children aged 0-18. It is patterned after the

conditional cash transfer (CCT) schemes in Latin American and African countries, which have

lifted millions of people around the world from poverty.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is the lead

government agency of the 4Ps.

ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the challenges and benefits of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino

Program (4Ps) to the student-beneficiaries of San Francisco National High School, San

Francisco, Bulan, Sorsogon in the Philippines. Survey questionnaires were distributed to thirty

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) student beneficiaries who were voluntary selected

based on the willingness of the 4P's beneficiaries’ students.

Analysis of all collected data revealed the significant challenges and benefits of the

program to the student beneficiaries especially in motivating students to attend classes and

assessing about their experiences as a student beneficiary of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino

Program.
 Based on the findings, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program implemented by

Department of Social Welfare and development has its benefits that help every student to support

their financial needs in terms of education, healthcare, nutrition, and foods. From the response of

the respondents, it shows that Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is more beneficial and a

helpful program for those students who can't meet the things that they need for their everyday

personal needs.

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Poverty is a condition where people are deprived by their basic needs, it is a widespread

problem experienced in every country whether developed or developing. It is a never-ending

cycle; it cannot be eliminated but rather a country can only mitigate it. Conditional Cash transfer

programs are one of the most popular methods used by the government in poverty alleviation and

is greatly used among countries, mostly on Latin America such as Mexico, Brazil, Colombia and

Chile, who are developing and underdeveloped (Dadap, 2011).

In the Philippines, Department of Social Welfare and Development adopted the same

program for the reason that it shown success in poverty reduction among Latin American

Countries. According to (Reyes &Tabuga, 2012) they cited the Department of Social Welfare and

Development briefer that the Philippines’ version of the CCT, the 4Ps, is patterned after the basic

CCT structure, with its objective to provide social assistance by providing cash grants and health

care services and social development by investing and improving the human capital in the long
run. It helps to fulfill the country’s commitment meet its goals, namely: (a) eradicate extreme

poverty and hunger, (b) achieve universal primary education, (c) promote gender equality, (d)

reduce child mortality, and (e) Improve maternal health.

The researchers want to have a large and comprehensive understanding on the Pantawid

Pamilyang Pilipino Program’s performance and analyze this program whether it really helps the

poor especially families experiencing poverty, its effects to the beneficiaries’ quality of living,

and if the beneficiaries are really being helped by the government with the help of this program

to reduce poverty, or if people are just being thought of as not working for their families and

being dependent on government programs.

The researchers want to evaluate the performance of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino

Program and to understand whether the issues related to this program are true, issues such as

corruption, improper distribution of cash grants, the government is giving it to those people who

are not really experiencing poverty, whether it is given to them directly or not, the beneficiaries

is using it for other things like gambling, drinking alcohol, and cigarettes, and students

beneficiaries is not receiving any amount of money because their parents are using it in other

matters, not on their educational assistance, financial assistance and health benefits.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This research aims to evaluate the benefits and challenges of Pantawid Pamilyang

Pilipino Program (4Ps) to the student beneficiaries. Specifically, it will seek to answer the

following questions:
1. What is the profile of the respondents in terms of the following:

1.1 Age

1.2 Civil Status

1.3 Number of dependents per household

1.4 Father’s and Mother’s Occupation

1.5 Monthly Earnings

1.6 Appliances/Gadgets owned

1.7 Cash Grants Received

2. What are the challenges experienced by the student beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang

Pilipino Program?

3. Do student beneficiaries really benefit from the cash given by the government for their

educational assistance, financial assistance, and health benefits?

HYPOTHESIS OF THE STUDY

Null Hypothesis: Student beneficiaries don’t benefit from the cash given by the government for

their educational assistance, financial assistance, and health benefits.

Alternative Hypothesis: Student beneficiaries benefit from the cash given by the government

for their educational assistance, financial assistance, and health benefits.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study is significant to the government for the reason that it could be of use to them to

identify whether there are lapses or what the problems are with implementing this program. It

will also serve as a guide in determining the amelioration of the program and what they can do to

avoid different problems and make sure that this program is beneficial.

The study is beneficial to the poor for the reason that it could be of use to help them have

a better program or projects and to increase their quality of life and ameliorate the life that they

have right now.

The study is significant to the researchers mainly for the reason that, in order for them to

be able to add more to their knowledge regarding the benefits of cash assistance and the possible

challenges that beneficiaries can encounter by implementing different programs.

The study is beneficial to future researchers in order for them to have a reference in their

future studies.

SCOPE AND DELIMITATIONS

In this study the researchers seek to determine the Challenges and Benefits to the Senior

high school Student’s Beneficiaries at San Francisco National High School SY: 2023-2024 which

has a total of sixty (60) 4ps beneficiaries from different strands namely: General Academic

Strand (GAS) with ten (10) total beneficiaries, Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) with

ten (10) total beneficiaries, Computer Center Services (CCS) with fifteen (15) total

beneficiaries, Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) with seven (7) total beneficiaries,
Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM) with eighteen (18) total beneficiaries, Food

and Beverages Services (FBS) with five (5) total beneficiaries, and Hairdressing with five (5)

total beneficiaries. The researchers used the Volunteer sampling method or technique to select

thirty (30) beneficiaries from the total respondents.

DEFINITION OF TERMS:

There are several terms used in this study. These terms were defined operationally and

conceptually.

4Ps – It is the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program implemented by the Department of Social

Welfare and Development (DSWD). Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a poverty

reduction and social protection and development strategy of the national government that

provides Conditional Cash Grants to poor families in order to improve their health, nutrition, and

education of children aged 0-18 y/o.

Beneficiaries – As used in the study, recipients of cash grants or other benefits. A beneficiary is

any person who gains an advantage and/or profits from something.

Department of Social Welfare and Development – This refers to the government agency which

takes the lead in implementing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4ps). DSWD works in

partnership with key agencies such as Department of Health and Department of Education.

Health Benefits – This refers to the objective of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of

helping the beneficiaries to have access on health welfare through regular check-up, providing

vitamins and medicines, and give knowledge on productive and healthy life style.
Poverty – In the study, it’s a problem experienced by many Filipino families that’s why

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is being implemented.

Conditional Cash Transfer – The act of providing money to poor families to send their children

to school or bringing them to health centers on a regular basis.

Challenges – It is all about the experiences of the student beneficiaries on receiving money and

other benefits from 4ps.

Benefits – It is all about the satisfaction of the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino

Program.

CHAPTER II

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY

METHODOLOGY

This chapter discusses the locale of the study, the respondents of the study, the research

instruments used, the statistical treatment, and the data gathering procedure.

LOCALE OF THE STUDY

The research study was conducted at barangay San Francisco, Bulan, Sorsogon where the

San Francisco National High School is located.

SOURCES OF DATA

The research used thirty (30) respondents in order to gather relevant data. In this research,

two types of data were gathered. These include the primary source of data and secondary data

types. The primary data were from the answers given by the respondents. The secondary data

were from relevant published literature and document related to effectiveness of 4P’s

implementation and its challenges and benefits to the students’ beneficiaries.

RESPONDENTS OF THE STUDY

In order to determine the challenges and benefits of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino

Program (4P’s) to the students’ beneficiaries, a total of 30 respondents were chosen. The selected

participants for sample selection were from seven strand of San Francisco National High School

(SFNHS) such as GAS, HUMSS, CCS, EIM, SMAW, FBS, Hairdressing. The respondents of the

research study are the Grade 12 Senior High Scholl students at San Francisco National High

School (SFNHS) School Year 2023-2024. The total respondents of Grade twelve (12)

beneficiaries of 4ps are 60. From 60 4ps beneficiaries from the Grade twelve (12) class there are

selected thirty (30) beneficiaries were considered as the respondents of the study.

Table 1.1

THE RESPONDENTS

Grade level/Name of Total Population Number of respondent/s

Strand
GAS 10 5
 HUMSS 10 5

CCS 15 5

EIM 18 5

SMAW 7 5

HAIRDRESSING 5 2

FBS 5 3

TOTAL 60 30

Table1: This shows the respondents of the study.

RESEARCH INSTRUMENT

The researchers made use of a survey questionnaire as research instruments. The focus of

the questions is on the survey questionnaire are the research questions related to Pantawid

Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

QUESTIONNAIRE:

Survey Questionnaire for Grade twelve students at San Francisco National High School who are

beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program

Name (Optional): ______________________________________________________________

Age: _______________ Civil Status: ______________________________________________

Number of dependents per household: ____________________________________________

Mother’s Name: _______________________ Occupation: ____________________________

Father’s Name: ________________________ Occupation: ____________________________

Appliances/Gadgets owned: _____________________________________________________

Monthly Earnings: Cash Grants Received:

o 10,000 below 2,000 – 3,000

o 11,00-20,000 3,000 – 4,000

o 21,000-30,000 4,000 above

o 31,000-40,000

o 40,000 above

In which aspect do your parents use the cash grants from the 4Ps?

o Education

o Health

o Food

o Others (please specify) ____________________________

How much money do your parents spend for gambling, alcohol and/or cigarettes after

receiving money from 4P’s?

o About 100-200 pesos

 o About 300-500 pesos

o 500 pesos and above

o All of the money they receive

o They don’t spend money to these things

Does the money that your parents receive from the 4Ps is enough to lessen your family’s

financial problem?

o Yes

o No

Do you think that the government should increase the amount of money/cash assistance

they are giving to the 4Ps beneficiaries?

o Yes

o No

Rate the quality & importance of the program (1 is the lowest; 5 is the highest)

o 1

o 2

o 3
 o 4

o 5

Do you think that the 4Ps is really a helpful program?

o Yes

o No

Why? (You can write your answer in whatever language you prefer).

________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________.

STATISTICAL TREATMENT

The statistical Treatment used in this study were the frequency count. Frequency count

refers to the number of times the answer is given by the respondents. To identify the highest

rating, percentage was used with this formula.

P=f/N x 100 percent

Where:

P – Percentage

F – Frequency

N – Number of respondents

DATA GATHERING PROCEDURE

To conduct a survey, the researcher's gives the permit to the instructor of Philippine

Administrative Thoughts and Institution to sign. The researcher's go to the San Francisco

National High School (SFNHS) San Francisco, Bulan, Sorsogon. The researchers came to San

Francisco National High School at around 7:30 oclock in the morning, the researcher's asked

permission to the Head Teacher or Officer in charge who's Mr. Rizalito Vargas last November 14,

2023 at around nine (9) o'clock in the morning. After securing the permission, the researcher's

starts conducting a survey to the following grade-12 class rooms which is GAS, HUMSS, EIM,

CCS, SMAW, FBS, and Hairdressing. In every section researcher's ask a permission to conduct

survey and give some background information about the researcher's profile, after wards the

researchers distributes the questionnaires to the students. The researcher's finished conducting a

survey at around 9:30 am O'clock in the morning.

CHAPTER III

PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

RESULTS:
 TABLE 1.1

MONTHLY INCOME

MONTHLY INCOME FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE

10, 000 below 29 96.6%

11, 000 – 20, 000 0 0

21, 000 – 30, 000 0 0

31, 000 – 40, 000 1 3.3%

40, 000 above 0 0

As presented in table 1.1, 10,000 below as monthly income has the highest frequency

count of 29 with percentage of 96.6% followed by 31,000 – 40,000 with frequency count of 1

and percentage of 3.3%. While 11,000 – 20,000, 21,000 – 30, 000, and 40, 000 above got no

frequency count and percentage.

These findings clearly purport that families granted by the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino

Program (4P’s) are those families whose monthly income does not meet the basic needs of one

family. Furthermore, these findings describes that the family don’t have enough income to

support the things that they want and those things that they need for their family.

With this, it is a representation that there are so many families included in the Pantawid

Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) who can’t afford to support their everyday needs which is

good so that the money in the program is disseminated to those families who deserve the most.

TABLE 1.2

CASH GRANTS RECEIVED

 CASH GRANTS RECIEVED FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE

2,000 – 3,000 6 20%

3,000 – 4,000 17 56.6%

4,000 above 7 23.3%

As presented in the table 1.2, cash grants ranging from 3,000 – 4,000 has the highest

frequency count of 17 with percentage of 56.6% followed by 4,000 above with frequency count

of 7 and percentage of 23.3%. Moreover, 2,000 – 3,000 has the lowest frequency count with 6

with percentage of 20%.

These findings clearly state that the cash grants ranging 3,000 – 4,000 are mostly the

amount of money that the beneficiaries receive from Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program

(4P’s). With this amount of money, we can assume that this is enough to contribute for the foods,

healthcare, and education of all the beneficiaries.

TABLE 2.1

Aspect were parents use the cash grants from the 4P’s

ASPECT FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE

Education 23 80%

Health 1 3.3%

Food 15 50%

Others 0 0
 As presented in the table 2.1, education has the highest frequency count of 23 with 80%

were the parents use the cash grants from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s). It

was followed by Food with 15 frequency count with 50%. Moreover, Health has the lowest

frequency count of 1 with 3.3%.

These findings clearly states that most of the parents 4P’s beneficiaries uses the money

from Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) to support their children on their education

and send their children to school. It explains that the parents of the students’ beneficiaries are

responsible enough on spending and using their money from the said program.

TABLE 2.2

Parents spend for gambling, alcohol, and/or cigarettes after receiving money from 4P’s

MONEY SPEND FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE

About 100 – 200 pesos 5 16.6%

About 300 – 500 pesos 2 6.6%

500 pesos and above 0 0

All of the money they receive 0 0

They don’t spend money to 23 76%

these things.

As shown in the table 2.2, parents of the student’s beneficiaries don’t spend money from

the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) for gambling, cigarettes and alcohol. It has a

total of 23 frequency count with 76% followed by about 100 – 200 pesos with 5 frequency count
with 16.6%. Moreover, 200 – 500 pesos with 2 frequency count with 6.6% while 500 pesos and

above and all of the money they receive, has no frequency count and percentage.

Findings imply that most of the parents of the student’s beneficiaries focuses on the

benefits of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) to their children and not on personal

needs and personal happiness. In the study, we can see that most of the parents are aware about

the proper way of using money from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) and what

are the main purpose of implementing this program.

TABLE 2.3

The money that the parents of the beneficiaries receive from 4ps is enough to lessen the

family’s financial problem

AMOUNT SATISFACTION FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE

Yes 28 93.3%

No 2 6.6%

As presented in the table 2.3, the answer “yes” has the highest frequency count of 28 with

percentage of 93.3% while there are 2 frequency count for “no” with percentage of 6.6%.

Findings imply that the student’s beneficiaries are satisfied on the amount of money that

their parents receive from Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) to lessen different

financial problems. Meaning, the amount of money that the beneficiaries receive from 4p’s is

enough to lessen different financial problems different expenses.

 TABLE 2.4

The government should increase the amount of money/cash assistance they are giving to the

4P’s beneficiaries.

INCREASE CASH ASSISTANCE FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE

Yes 28 93.3%

No 2 6.6%

As shown in the table 2.4, the answer “yes” from the question about increasing the

amount of cash assistance giving to the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino

Program (4P’s) got 28 frequency count with 93.3% while 2 frequency count with 6.6% for the

answer “no”.

These finding imply that the government should increase the amount of money or cash

assistance they’re giving to the beneficiaries. Even though the beneficiaries say that the money

or cash assistance receive from 4P’s, but there are still a lot of beneficiaries who wants to

increase of money that they can receive from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s).

TABLE 2.5

Quality and Importance of the Program

IMPORTANCE OF PROGRAM FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE

1 0 0

2 0 0
 3 6 20%

4 4 13.3%

5 20 66.6%

As presented in table 2.5, the scale “5” as highest has the highest frequency count of 20

with percentage of 66.6% followed by scale “3” with frequency count of 6 and percentage of

20%. Moreover, scale “4” has frequency count of 4 with percentage of 13.3% while scale “2”

and “1” got no frequency count and percentage.

These findings clearly denote that the quality and importance of the Pantawid Pamilyang

Pilipino Program (4P’s) is very evident. From the 30 total respondents, there are 20 student’s

beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) who agree that this program is very

effective, helpful, and important to everyone. Furthermore, these findings also imply that this

program is important to all the beneficiary’s student for the amelioration of their healthcare,

education, foods, and other basic needs.

TABLE 2.6

4P’s is a helpful program

HELPFUL PROGRAM FREQUENCY PERCENTAGE

Yes 30 100%

No 0 0

As shown in the table 2.6, the answer “yes” all about 4P’s as a helpful program shows

that there are 30 frequency rates with percentage of 100%.

 These findings clearly denote that 4P’s or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is a

helpful program not only for the parents but for the beneficiaries as well. Furthermore, a 100%

total percentage is a representation that Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) is an

effective and important program especially for those families who can’t afford to buy some of

their basic needs if they’re going to get it from their monthly income.

CHAPTER IV

BENEFITS, CHALLENGES, RECOMMENDATIONS

BENEFITS:

From the responses of the 30 respondents from San Francisco National High School from

different strands, we can see the monthly income that their family can get from the different

resources that they have. Out of 30 respondents, there are 29 who select 10,000 and below. With

that, we can see the benefits of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) to the student

beneficiaries who are experiencing financial problems or family financial problems.

From the question, “In which aspect do your parents use the cash grants from the 4Ps?

"There are a total of 23 responses for education and 15 for foods. As we can see, the Pantawid

Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) can help one family who is experiencing different financial

problems. With the help of this program, children can benefit from the cash grants given to poor

families. With the help of this money, we can say that it can lessen the financial problems of one

family when it comes to education expenses like school supplies and other things and food

expenses.

For the question “How much money do your parents spend for gambling, alcohol and/or

cigarettes after receiving money from 4P’s?” there are 23 respondents who response on “they
don’t spend money to these things.” With this, we can ensure that most of the student’s

beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P’s) can benefit from the cash grants

given by the government for their education, foods, and healthcare and not for other things like

appliances and different transportation.

Lastly, from the question, “Is 4P’s a really helpful program? "From the 30 total samples,

there are 30 total responses to "yes,” meaning all of the 30 beneficiaries benefit a lot from the

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4 P's). According to the responses of 30 respondents,

“Yes, nakakatulong ito saamin lalo na saakin na mag-aaral dahil sa mga project” and “Dahil sa

4P’s nakakabili kami ng bigas.” And lastly, “Yes, because 4P’s highly address the needs of

students. It supports the essential needs of the students in terms of education, health, etc."

Most of the responses say that they can benefit from 4P’s that can help them for their

educational expenses like school uniforms, school supplies and all the things that they need for

their studies.

CHALLENGES:

Like any other government program, the 4Ps also have its disadvantages that may

encumber its helpful benefits. One of the most crucial characteristics of the 4Ps and other CCT

programs implemented in other countries is its being a ‘demand - side’ intervention instead of

being a ‘supply - side’ intervention. That is, in order to be considered as a beneficiary of the

program, one must concede with the government’s demands and conditionalities (Coady &

Parker, 2002).

When it comes to the responses of the respondents there are 5 respondents’ response to

100 – 200 on how much their parents spend the money from Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino
Program (4P’s) while there are 2 responses to 300 – 500. As we can see, it is considered as one of

the major challenges or problem in implementing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program

(4P’s). From the response of the respondents, we can ensure that there are also other

beneficiaries who are using the money from the program and spending it on gambling, cigarette,

and alcohol. From different provinces and cities in the Philippines, we can ensure that there are

still a lot of beneficiaries are spending their money on gambling, cigarette, and alcohol. This

challenge or problem encountered by student beneficiaries is always the thing that the

beneficiaries encountered but still we can’t see any progress or actions about this matter.

Under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program Act or the Republic Act (RA) 11310,

cases of wrongful acts committed by the beneficiaries will go through the Grievance Redress

System (GRS) for resolution and action. Erring 4Ps beneficiaries who undergo GRS include

those who pawn their cash cards, are engaged in illegal gambling and illegal drug trade using the

financial assistance, and parents who fail to support their children.

Another thing is, according to some respondents “the money from 4P’s is not enough to

support their financial needs. That’s why it’s also one of the challenges on implementing

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program. Parent-beneficiaries depend on the government financial

assistance and they’re not doing such actions to provides the needs and other important basic

needs to their families. They’re just waiting for the help of the government especially the release

of money and they’re not working on their own.

RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Improved and Organized Monthly Livelihood Program – This program can help the Pantawid

Pamilyang Pilipino Program to be more productive and help to maintain the cleanliness and

development of one community. At the same time, this program can help beneficiaries be more

productive, and they’re not just asking for and waiting for the help of the government.

2. One of the rules for the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is that

they’re going to present a receipt after receiving the 600 pesos per month given for rice subsidy.

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries will receive 1,200 pesos during payout,

and this money is only for the rice subsidy. Just like this, it is much better if the Department of

Social Welfare and Development should require every beneficiary to present their receipt after

buying their expenses, like their personal needs and the basic needs of their family. With this, we

can ensure that the money received by the beneficiaries is spent on goods and not on other things

like gambling, paying debt, alcohol, and cigarettes. With this recommendation, we can ensure

that the students’ beneficiaries will benefit from the money that can help them with their

education, healthcare, and food.