Abstract
This study investigates the influence of political patronage networks on beneficiary selection for the Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) TUPAD Cash-for-Work Program in Llorente, Eastern Samar, Philippines, a municipality excluded from the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) since 2015, signaling systemic governance deficiencies. Historically shaped by Spanish colonial-era patron-client dynamics, Philippine politics prioritizes loyalty-based exchanges of material benefits (e.g., jobs, aid) for political support, often distorting welfare programs. The research addresses a critical gap in the literature by examining how these dynamics operate at the municipal/barangay level, where qualitative insights from beneficiaries remain underexplored despite evidence of clientelism in national programs like Pantawid 4Ps (Swamy, 2016; Reyes et al., 2013) and COA audits (2025) confirming TUPAD irregularities (e.g., duplicate beneficiaries). Using hermeneutic phenomenology, semi-structured interviews with 12 participants (beneficiaries, non-beneficiaries, officials) revealed that local officials (mayors, barangay captains) act as gatekeepers, prioritizing political allies, violating DOLE guidelines through non-transparent processes and relisting connected beneficiaries. This resulted in the exclusion of eligible residents, eroded public trust, and reduced poverty impact, exposing how patronage diverts resources from intended recipients. The study underscores the exigency of reforming TUPAD, recommending decentralized verification, community-led monitoring, and public disclosure to realign the program with equitable humanitarian goals.
https://doi.org/10.65494/pinagpalapublishing.37
