The Socio-economic conditions of the Household-Beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)

The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) of the Philippine government was implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). It was designed to aid poor households with short-term consumption needs while promoting investment in the education and health of their children to help break the inter-generational transmission of poverty in the country. This study employed a descriptive research design to determine the present socio-economic conditions of the household beneficiaries of 4Ps in Bagacay, Daram, Samar, Philippines. The household-beneficiaries belonged to low income families whose highest educational attainment of the majority of their members was elementary level only, and fishing was a main source of their income. More household-beneficiaries had two children each covered by the program. They still experienced deficiency with their daily basic needs such as foods, water, clothing, and other family expenditures. Many of them procured only those affordable televisions, electric fans, bulbs or fluorescents, and cell phones. They had no ownership and assurance in their housing and land used. Most of their houses were not concrete, since they could not afford to purchase materials for house construction. Not all household-beneficiaries constructed toilets, and some of those with toilets were not ideal. Other household-beneficiaries were cultivating agricultural lands which were not their own. More parents constantly monitored their children’s attendance, and progresses in school. They actively participated in the school activities.