Mark Vincent R.

Maputol
2019-21467
SW 122
Prof. Natalia Sali

Analysis Paper

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program undeniably makes a significant

impact on our fellow citizens facing poverty in the Philippines. It provides substantial
support to communities by ensuring that children attend school and receive
vaccinations, deworming, and regular health check-ups. Currently in operation across
seventy-nine provinces, spanning 143 major cities and 1484 municipalities in seventeen
regions nationwide, the program offers cash grants to economically disadvantaged
households. To maximize the success of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT), several
national government organizations have introduced comprehensive college
scholarships for additional eligible children in CCT-approved households. All of those
are government efforts to address poverty in the country. However, there is evidence
suggesting that the 4Ps can be likened to a Band-Aid solution, providing only temporary
assistance to people and not proving to be sustainable in the long run.
The 4Ps program leads to corruption in impoverished areas, where local
government officials monitor the ATM cards of beneficiaries and provide their families
with regular "cash advances." Subsequently, these officials receive a portion of the
funds from the disadvantaged families. Most Filipino beneficiaries rely solely on the
assistance they receive from this program, hindering positive development in a
community. The program fails to effectively communicate to people the reason for their
assistance, which is to help them stand on their own feet and build the capacity for
sustainable livelihoods, breaking free from the cycle of poverty. The excessive number
of requirements to receive benefits from this program adds further difficulty. This
program is overly selective, making it even more challenging for the impoverished who
lack the capability to comply with its requirements.
In summary, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program elicits both praise and
criticism. Despite demonstrating positive effects on education and health, ongoing
assessment and adjustments are necessary to address apprehensions regarding
corruption, dependency, and the program's long-term efficacy, ensuring its success in
tackling poverty in the Philippines.