Poorest Pinoys know 4Ps, but not other nutrition programs

MANILA, Philippines – Majority of the poor are familiar with government’s conditional cash transfer or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), but they lack awareness of other food and nutrition programs.

Naturally, less awareness means less participation.

In a country with over a hundred million mouths to feed – with a quarter of them considered poor – such government programs may come in handy.

The most unfamiliar programs, as revealed by a 2015 World Food Programme (WFP) survey, are related to livelihood projects, vegetable gardening, supplementary feeding in schools, immunization, health and hygiene education, and breastfeeding in the workplace.

Most of them are free of charge and are essential in ensuring children’s good health.

At the bottom of the awareness pyramid are those that support entrepreneurs and micronutrient supplementation at only 12% and 14% – a big drop from people’s awareness of the 4Ps.

Some government projects are less known such as those of the Department of Health, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Environment, the Department of Labor and Employment, and Natural Resources, and the Department of Agriculture. 

Flagship program

Meanwhile, 94% of the surveyed families were aware of the 4Ps, the Philippine government’s flagship poverty reduction program. Only 42%, however, were actually participating in the program.

The 4Ps is managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development. It provides “cash grants” to beneficiaries as long as they attend family development sessions, and send their children to school and to health check-ups.

It is lauded by the Aquino administration, but questioned by some critics who call it a mere “band-aid solution” and “dole-out program.”

The survey was conducted by Laylo Research Strategies from August 16 to September 5, 2015 covering 16 of the country’s poorest provinces. The survey had 1,600 respondents from both rural and urban areas, coming from lower-income households classified under classes D and E. The survey has an error margin of ±2.5%.

Taking part

Families have to be consulted before implementing any program, advocates stress. People should not be treated as mere beneficiaries, but as partners in planning and evaluating government programs.

The WFP survey, however, showed that only around half of households actually joined such consultations. The main reason for skipping meetings is still lack of awareness.

Among the poorest provinces, Maguindanao had the least participation in consultations; while Apayao fared the best.

Other reasons for not attending meetings include being too busy either at work or with household chores and childcare, lack of interest, or the fact that their barangays really do not hold consultations.

The WFP survey also showed that even less households are aware of health programs conducted by non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

While less and less Filipinos are learning about nutrition programs easily within their reach, this might also mean many are still unaware of how to properly care for their children.

Awareness, advocates say, is the first step to beating hunger. First steps, however, are not always the easiest. – Rappler.com