Examining the Effects of 4Ps Participation on Nutritional Outcomes in the Philippines

Over the years, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) has been at the forefront of the government’s efforts to alleviate poverty and improve health and nutrition outcomes among the most vulnerable Filipino families. This program, which offers financial assistance in return for complying with health, education, and nutrition-related requirements, has shown positive effects on children's nutritional outcomes. This study investigates how children's nutritional outcomes are affected by conditional cash transfers (i.e., 4Ps) in the Philippines. It aims to explore the role that the 4Ps play in the prevalence of stunting and wasting in children. By using the 2018–2019 Expanded National Nutrition Survey from the Food and Nutrition Research Institute and through propensity score matching, the research assesses the probability that poor and the poorest households will participate in the 4Ps program. The study estimates the causal effect of 4Ps participation on a range of nutritional indicators, including weight-for-height, height-for-age, body mass index Z-scores, stunting, underweight, wasting, and severe stunting, by comparing matched groups and considering various covariates. The results highlight the need for a nuanced understanding of the program's effects, as they show no significant improvement in children's nutritional status based on the program’s impacts. Comments on this paper are welcome within 60 days from the date of posting. Email publications@pids.gov.ph.