Variation In The Role And Coping Mechanism of 4Ps Beneficiaries In Northern Samar

Abstract

This study analyzed the emerging roles and coping mechanisms of poor families in the province of Northern Samar considering the 4Ps recipients as the representatives of the poor families.

It described the emergent roles of families in relation to income generation, provision of basic needs and family spending. The power patterns among poor families were also examined. It also discussed the coping mechanisms of poor families in terms of income generation, provision of basic needs and family spending.

This study was conducted in the province of Northern Samar and considered one municipality from every geographical area as the major data source. The municipality of Lavezares represented the Balicuatro  area, Catarman for the central area and Pambujan for the Pacific Area.

This study considered the heads of poor families in drawing out data. The recipients of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) were basically the subjects of the study. They were drawn through purposive sampling technique.

Among the parents’ emergent role on income generation, giving of the whole income for the family was frequently practiced while accepting immediate paid labor and leaving the major source of income was least or occasionally practiced. On the provision of basic needs the frequently performed role was the daily preparation of food by the parents and the least  frequently practiced was the provision of regular budget for food. On family spending, the frequently performed role was that the parents make the final decision, making authority and the occasionally practiced was that, the parents don’t tell the family on significant matters.

Among the family power patterns, the frequently played was the voice of the father is the law in the family while the least manifested power pattern was that, the father is the head but not the breadwinner, thus obedient to the breadwinner.

In terms of income generation, family coping mechanisms of poor families in Northern Samar, the frequently practiced mechanism was generally, the culture of sharing is observed in the family while the seldom practiced was a member of the family has to stop schooling and work to augment the income of the family. On the provision of basic needs, the occasionally practiced was that the father doubles his major task to support and satisfy the basic needs of the family while the seldom practiced was, the eldest child of the family has to go to an urban/city area for a job to finance the basic needs of the family. Any member of the family is consulted for decision on spending matter is the occasionally shown coping mechanism while, in all family affairs, decision on spending is always put upon the shoulders of the close friends was the seldom coping mechanism shown.

Keywords: Family role, coping mechanisms, poor families