Poverty is a problem for Filipinos in Baseco.

Structural poverty is still a binding constraint to the equitable growth in the Philippines. This is caused by the multi-dimensional nature of poverty, as manifested in education and health outcomes. (Chaudhuryand Okamura 2012)

Examples:

• It shows that the completion rate for elementary schools are low, where only one quarter of 11-13 years old children under the lowest income quintile finish elementary school (World Bank, 2010 and 2011)

• The 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey provided that access to health care in the country is more problematic for poor

• Challenges remain in implementing key policies and improving maternal health and reproductive health care. (ADB et al. 2008)

Conceptual Framework

PROGRAM PACKAGE

HEALTH GRANT (P500) for a household +

EDUCATION GRANT (P300) per child

Education grant is limited to 3 children per household

only; ages 0-14 only

Health grant is conditional to

a. For children 0-5, monthly check ups

b. For children 6-14, deworming twice a year

c. For household beneficiaries, attendance to

FDS monthly

Education grant is conditional to

a. for children 6-14 attend 85% of their classes

Program Details

DSWD is the lead implementing agency of government.

Program Conditions

1. Pregnant beneficiaries shall get pre-natal care, childbirth shall be attended by

skilled/trained health professionals, and mothers shall get post natal care

thereafter;

2. Children 0-5 years of age get regular preventive health checkups and vaccines;;

3. Children 6-14 years old shall receive deworming pills twice a year;

4. Children 3-5 years old shall go to day care/ pre-school classes and attend 85

% of the time;

5. Children 6-14 years old must be enrolled in school and should attend 85% of

the time ; and

6. Parents / guardians must attend family planning sessions/ mother's class, Parent Effectiveness Service and others;

RESPONSES TO THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONDITIONAL CASH TRANSFER PROGRAM OF THE

PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT BY THE PROGRAM BENEFICIARIES IN BASECO, MANILA CITY

Vanessa Q. GaringoJeselea Lagasca

Nerish Joy L. MacawiliLloyd Erickson Saplad

YahYah Alberto A. TabilogJose Luis M. Trabajo

Statement of the problem

1. How do beneficiaries of CCT describe the program?

2. Does CCT Program of the government help improve the conditions of the beneficiaries in terms of:

2.1. Education; and

2.2. Health;

3.How does CCT help improve the living condition of the beneficiaries of the program?

4. What problems do beneficiaries experience in the implementation of CCT?

METHODOLOGIES

• Group interview method is used to collect data.

• In this research, information is gathered from a range of interviewees who have direct interest in the implementation of 4Ps

• Interviews were semi-structured; and questions were open-ended.

IntervieweesPANEL A. SET 1 BENEFICIARIES from BasecoPANEL B. SOCIAL WORKERSPANEL C. TEACHERSPANEL D. DOCTOR

NOTE: The primary stakeholders from whom the responses are derived from are the Set 1 beneficiaries from Baseco, and the interviews with other “panels” are used for validation purposes and further information.

Unit Analysis

- Selection of participants in the research isbased on a “non-probability purposefulsampling” of beneficiaries in Baseco.

- Criteria for selection:

- 1. Participants are registered Set 1beneficiaries of 4Ps in Baseco; and

- 2. Participants have one child, or childrenincluded in the program.

Conclusions

Re Problem 1:

After five years of implementation of CCT, residents of Baseco Compound remained in the state of extreme poverty and that they still need the 4Ps program even after they graduated from the program itself.

The program is particularly important for the health and education of their children.

4Ps helped the children of the beneficiaries in terms

of education. Though not enough the program helps

provide the basic needs of children in school.

4Ps helped the beneficiaries in terms of the health

care of their children by compelling them to visit the

clinics because of the cash benefit for their children

Beneficiaries are also aware of the implementation

processes involved such registration, membership and

monitoring.

Conclusions

Responses of the respondents revealed that 4Ps helped the children of the beneficiaries in terms of education. The program also compels the parents to send their children to school because this is one condition for them to get the cash benefits.

Responses of the respondents also revealed that 4Ps helped the beneficiaries in terms of the health care of their children. They were compelled to visit the clinics because of the cash benefit for their children.

Beneficiaries are also aware of the implementation processes involved such registration, membership and monitoring.

Conclusions

Re Problem 2:Attendance of children to school is getting good. Absenteeism was avoided.

Teachers pointed out that, though they performed well in attendance academic performances of the respondents were poor as evidenced by their low grades.

In terms of health and nutrition, the 500 cash grant help children’s healthcare. This made the beneficiaries became more aware about their health condition as they were obliged to visit the health center once in every two months, as scheduled by their community doctor.

Conclusions

Re Problem 3:Responses of beneficiaries revealed that 4Ps improved their living condition because they were provided an added income source. Putting up small businesses is perceived to have a positive impact on their economic condition.

Some responses of beneficiaries revealed that 4Ps made no difference in their living condition. This is because the cash grant is very minimal that once it is disbursed, it is automatically spent for all the necessary expenditures, while sometimes it is even insufficient.

Responses of beneficiaries also revealed that 4Ps has a positive impact on their social condition because their environmental and social awareness increased.

Conclusions

Beneficiaries from Block 1- Gasangan and Block 5 did not receive their cash grants from 2010 to 2011. A factor which caused this is the absconding of their city link.

7 out of 13 blocks complained about the delay in the receipt of their cash grants. It was found out that the cash is being transferred once every two to three months, rather than the monthly guarantee signed under the Oath of Commitment.

7 out of 13 blocks complained about the inconsistency of the cash grant they receive monthly. Factors which could possible cause the alteration of the amount are non-compliance with program conditions; and update on the number of children included in the program.

Conclusions

Responses of beneficiaries revealed that the pawning of cash card is happening in Baseco. It was found out that parent leaders tolerated this scheme, since despite their knowledge they do not report such ongoing instances.

Beneficiaries are aware that pawning of their cash card is a violation of their agreement with the DSWD-RPMO NCR. However, as an effect of cash-grant related issues, pawning of cash card could not be avoided.

Conclusions

Recommendations

1. The Philippine Government should continue the implementation of 4Ps. It is also highly recommended to design another program for the beneficiaries who graduated from the CCT. Otherwise, beneficiaries will go back to the same status of life. In the absence of a follow-up program, the purpose of CCT in the Philippines will be defeated.

Recommendations

2. This research paper recommends for the DSWD-RPMO NCR to extend the benefit of 4Ps by including rice supply and school materials to beneficiaries

3. Responses as reflected in the descriptions of the program implied some problems that must be resolved. These problems relate to the disbursal of cash-grant and the pawning of cash cards. This research paper, therefore, strongly recommends for DSWD- RPMO NCR to conduct an investigation about the causes of these problems to provide resolution.

Recommendations

4. It is our recommendation for DSWD-RPMO NCR to schedule open fora and dialogue with beneficiaries for every block monthly. The DSWD may also initiate seminars and consultations for the beneficiaries.

Recommendations

5. It was found out in the research that there are only two city links which attend to the needs of 1,654 beneficiaries in Baseco, which adversely affects to the pace, quantity and quality of services they provide.Therefore, it is our recommendation for DSWD to assign one or two more city links to delegate with the functions.

Recommendations

6. it is our recommendation that Government should also consider providing job opportunities for the beneficiaries other than conditional cash transfer. The DSWD must also spot beneficiaries with entrepreneurial skills. The agency must find a way of helping them by supporting their endeavour to earn a living. The DSWD could tap other agencies such as civil society organizations that could lend those funds for their small businesses. The idea of cooperative may also be introduced to the beneficiaries with entrepreneurial skills.

Recommendations

7. Beneficiaries who use their benefits wisely could be given an award and must be made model recipients of the community. The Government may give them monetary award that would further help improve their lives.

Recommendations

8. An effective way to assess program effectiveness and make improvements is to include rigorous impact evaluation as part of CCT implementation. Therefore, it is our recommendation for civil society organizations to collaborate with the Government to carry out impact evaluation studies concerning the impact of education and health to the beneficiaries. It is highly recommended to employ statistical methods to be able to come up with generalizations, or recreate similar impact evaluations conducted by Latin American countries in studying CCTs.

Recommendations

PICTURES