Abstract

Household food insecurity has significant adverse effects on children’s well-being. However, in the Philippines, only a few studies have been done to investigate this. This study aims to contribute to this literature in the Philippines and at the local level through the use of the Community-Based Monitoring System (CBMS) data. We assessed food insecurity in the households using the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) module Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) and investigate the association of being moderately and severely food insecure and children’s enrolment and work status. We then estimate the impact of being enrolled in a government cash transfer program on children’s enrolment and work status of food insecure households. The study finds that while household food insecurity plays a factor in enrolment and work status of children, government cash transfer programs are able to minimize the negative impact of food insecurity to children’s well-being.