Beyond the Cash Grant: How 4Ps Shapes Beneficiaries' Sense of Quality of Life (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program)

Poverty remains one of the most pressing challenges in the Philippines, prompting the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to uplift the lives of low-income families. This study evaluated the program’s impact on the perceived quality of life of 4Ps beneficiaries in Biñan City, Laguna, focusing on financial stability, health and education access, and overall well-being sense. Specifically, it assessed how beneficiaries perceive the program’s influence on their lives and identified the challenges that hinder its effectiveness. Using an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, quantitative data were gathered from 164 beneficiaries of 4Ps through a validated and reliable questionnaire (Cronbach’s α = 0.91), followed by qualitative interviews with ten purposively selected participants. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while thematic analysis was applied to qualitative responses. Results revealed that the 4Ps program positively influences education and well-being, particularly by supporting school attendance and access to physiological needs. However, recurring payout delays emerged as a major operational issue, forcing many beneficiaries to rely on borrowing and hindering long-term financial stability. Themes such as “Payout Delays Cause Financial Strain” and “Dependence on Borrowing” underscore the gap between policy intentions and on-the-ground implementation. Having said that, the researchers recommend enhancing the 4Ps by ensuring timely payouts and integrating livelihood and employment initiatives to promote self-sufficiency among beneficiaries. Educators may use these findings to connect classroom discussions with real-world issues related to poverty and governance, while future researchers are encouraged to conduct broader, longitudinal studies to examine the program’s long-term impacts.