The Journey of 4Ps Beneficiaries

This study evaluates the journey of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries on households in San Miguel, Surigao del Sur, with a focus on poverty reduction, educational outcomes, and community perceptions. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research combines quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to assess beneficiaries' living conditions, financial security, and school attendance. Findings reveal that while 4Ps provides crucial short-term support, its influence on significantly improving overall living standards and long-term poverty alleviation remains limited. The program effectively encourages school attendance but has minimal impact on academic performance and economic self-sufficiency. Beneficiaries perceive the assistance as vital for meeting immediate household needs, particularly in education and health access, but issues such as delays, insufficient financial support, and automatic program exit after seven years hinder sustainability. The study highlights the need for integrating livelihood, educational quality, and health interventions to foster lasting socio-economic development. Recommendations include strengthening monitoring systems, streamlining beneficiary data management, and promoting community-driven programs for capacity building. This localized evaluation underscores the importance of tailoring conditional cash transfer programs to community contexts to optimize their effectiveness in poverty alleviation and long-term human development.