LEVEL OF AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION OF PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM BENEFICIARIES ON CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION

This paper determined the level of awareness of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries on Climate Change and their level of participation in climate change adaptation and mitigation. The study is anchored on the Theory of Planned Behavior. The study utilized a descriptive survey method. The participants of the study are sixty-one (61) 4Ps Parent-Leaders from the twenty-two (22) barangays of Municipality of Llanera, Nueva Ecija. The results showed that 4Ps beneficiaries are aware of the effects of climate change but their participation to adapt and mitigate its effects are not always observed due to inadequate resources, technology and lack of support from the local government. The study showed the need to evaluate the 4Ps beneficiaries on the application of Family Development Session topics regarding Climate Change. The study may provide baseline data for the formulation of local policies and programs for participatory climate change adaptation and mitigation.


Introduction
Conditional Cash Transfer Programs are initiated by many countries to alleviate poverty. Conditional Cash Transfer is first initiated in Mexico and Brazil on which the main purpose is to render cash transfers to extremely poor families but with conditionality in terms of education and healthcare (Reyes and Tabuga, 2012). The Philippines has its own version of conditional cash transfer which is the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or '4Ps' (Reyes, Taguba, Mina, and Asis, 2015). The Philippine government through the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) executed the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in 2008 which invests in the healthcare and education of poor eligible households and by improving the human capital. In order for the beneficiaries to receive the cash grant, there are some conditions set by the government which includes the compliance on health and education of the children beneficiaries as well as the attendance of the parents during Family Development Sessions (FDS). Family Development Sessions are conducted every month and different topics are being discussed by the Municipal Links. The topics discussed are related to health, education, disaster risk reduction and management, family values, and environmental management.

Study Locale
The study locale is in Llanera, a fourth (4th) class municipality in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines. It has 22 barangays and population of 39,701 according to the 2015 survey of Philippine Statistics Authority

Study Design
The researcher utilized a descriptive survey method. The researcher adopted a five (5)  Moderately Aware Often 4.21 -5.00 Extremely aware Always

Respondents
The researcher also used a purposive sampling technique to which the participants of this study are sixty-one (61) 4Ps Parent Leaders coming from the twenty-two (22) barangays of the Local Government Unit of Llanera, Nueva Ecija. The researcher requested for the names of participants on the Municipal Social Welfare and Development and asked permission to conduct the study. Municipal Links were also interviewed regarding on the topics they are discussing which are related to climate change.

Theoretical Framework
The study is anchored on the Theory of Planned Behavior by Ajzen (1991) as mentioned in the study of Skalik (2015). The theory states that the people's behavior to perform actions depends on some factors such as opportunities and resources. TPB, according to Hardeman, et al. (2002), is used to measure process and outcome variables and to predict intention and behavior, and less commonly to develop the intervention. This implies that awareness and participation of 4Ps beneficiaries on climate change will rely on the inputs such as Family Development Session as an area for the beneficiaries to acquire knowledge, their life experiences, and the availability of resources and technology.

Conceptual Framework
In order for the researcher to come up with the conclusion, the researcher critically analyzed the information gathered.
The input, process, and output as shown in the research paradigm represents the step by step procedure on how the researcher gathered information. The framework served as a guide that shows how the researcher successfully concluded the study.
Based on the gathered information and feedbacks of the participants through survey questionnaire using five (5)-point Likert Scale, interviews and focused group discussions, different insights are expected to arise. The researcher went through critical observations and analysis to conclude the level of awareness of 4Ps beneficiaries on the effects of climate change and their participation in climate change adaptation and mitigation.

Results and Discussion
This chapter presents the data gathered, the analysis and interpretations of the findings that are based on the stated problems. Table 1 presents the topics related to climate change and the attendance of participants.  compliant with this conditionality. In order for them to receive the total amount of cash grant, a member of the household beneficiary should attend the Family Development Sessions which are scheduled every month. According to DSWD Social Protection Support Project Progress Report (2015), as cited in the Project Administration Manual (2015), compliance of 4Ps beneficiaries on FDS has been consistently high equivalent to 96% as of August 2015. Furthermore, Frufonga (2015) pointed out that FDS have a positive impact on the beneficiaries thus, 100% increased on their attendance was noted after three years of the implementation of 4Ps. Table 2 presents the participants awareness of the issue of climate change and its effects, to wit; Warming with an average weighted mean of 3.59. 'Somewhat Aware' is the answer of the participants on Sea Level Rise having an average weighted mean of 3.06, the lowest AWM for all the criteria. The Assessment Report on Awareness and Knowledge Level on Climate Change and Adaptation Practices of UNDP Cambodia (2012) also noted that hotter temperature, strong rain and wind, and irregular rainfalls are some of the visible effects of climate change. Human activities such as forest degradation or by cutting down of trees, or the used of high technology appliances such as air-conditioner and refrigerator also contribute to the climate change. Many people claimed that because of the effects of climate change, their lives are also affected since they suffer from health-related problems, water shortages, food insecurity for their crops was damaged, and lesser income. Moreover, Hope (2016) states that the people in Guyana have experienced different natural disasters such as flooding due to heavy rainfall, sea levels rising, and droughts. People are aware that deforestation, burning of fossil fuels and carbon emissions are contributing factors to climate change. It is also noted that damaged to property due to floods as well as loss of production on agricultural crops and livestock are results of the effects of climate change. Table 3 presents the participation of 4Ps beneficiaries in climate change adaptation and mitigation, to wit;

Conclusion
The purpose of this study is to determine the level of awareness of 4Ps beneficiaries on the effects of climate change as well as the level of their participation in Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation. Based on the above findings, the researcher, therefore, concluded that the topics discussed during Family Development Session are very helpful for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino beneficiaries to gain more knowledge not only about Climate Change but also about the other problems and concerns arising in the community. Family Development Session is a very effective venue for new learnings for 4Ps beneficiaries since they are mandated to attend every session as a condition sets by the program.
In terms of the awareness of the 4Ps beneficiaries, they are all aware of the effects of climate change because of the learnings from FDS and life experiences. Although the beneficiaries are only somewhat aware with sea level rise since they live far away from coastal areas.
Furthermore, the participation of 4Ps beneficiaries is not always observed due to the limitedness of resources. Although some of the subjects of the study have knowledge with regards to climate change adaptation and mitigation, they are not able to put in into action due to the limitedness of resources, logistics, and technology as well. The 4Ps beneficiaries' participation in government initiated project to adapt and mitigate climate change is only minimal because of the lack of opportunity to participate. The participation of 4Ps beneficiaries in climate change adaptation and mitigation can be improved through injection of more learning and by having the support they need from the Local Government such as resources and technology.

Recommendations
Based on the findings of this study, the researcher arrived for the following recommendations: • There should be additional or separate topics related to Climate change and every after Family Development Session, there should be an evaluation for the actual application of what they have learned. LGUs. • Local Government Units and Local Social Welfare and Development Office should support the 4Ps beneficiaries by augmenting available resources and technology. This will empower them and will make them feel that their actions can help to mitigate the effects of climate change. • The researcher recommends that future researchers conduct a study on the effectiveness of Family Development Session and its impact on the 4Ps beneficiaries. The assessment of the qualities of Municipal Links who conducts Family Development Sessions is also needed.