Administrative Challenges in Ensuring Compliance to the 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program)

Abstract

This study examined the administrative challenges encountered by School Administrative Officers (SAOs) in monitoring the education-related conditionalities of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in selected public schools within Cluster 1–5 of Surigao del Sur. The program, designed to enhance school participation among children from economically disadvantaged households, relied heavily on accurate and timely compliance monitoring at the school level. Despite their crucial role, SAOs often faced significant workload, limited resources, overlapping functions, and coordination difficulties. Recognizing these operational constraints, the study aimed to determine the extent of administrative challenges, describe the SAOs’ monitoring practices, and assess the perceived effectiveness of compliance monitoring to inform context-specific interventions that strengthen the program’s implementation.
A descriptive research design was employed, utilizing a validated self-constructed questionnaire complemented by interviews, focus group discussions, and document reviews. Results revealed that SAOs experienced serious challenges in terms of capacity and resources (M = 4.003) and workload and role overlap (M = 3.997). Nevertheless, SAOs performed their duties at a compliant level (Overall M = 3.796), particularly in tracking and recording attendance (M = 3.85) and coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (M = 3.822). Compliance monitoring was perceived as more effective overall (M = 3.966), especially in accuracy and timeliness (M = 4.039). Findings underscored the need for streamlined processes, capacity-building, digital monitoring tools, and stronger inter-agency collaboration. Strengthening administrative support for SAOs is essential to improving the integrity of 4Ps monitoring and sustaining educational gains among beneficiary learners.