Beyond Financial Access: Capability Development as a Driver of Women’s Empowerment among 4Ps Beneficiaries

This study investigates the relationship between women’s entrepreneurial development and empowerment among beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines. Guided by Amartya Sen’s Capability Development Approach, the research examined three entrepreneurial capability dimensions—financial literacy, technical know-how, and access to finance—and their influence on empowerment outcomes. Using a quantitative, descriptive-correlational design, data were collected from 79 women engaged in entrepreneurial activities using a structured questionnaire on a 4-point Likert scale. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coefficient were employed for analysis. Findings revealed high levels of financial literacy and technical know-how, while access to finance was moderate. Women’s empowerment was rated very high across indicators of confidence, autonomy, and participation in household and community decision-making. Correlation analysis showed a significant positive relationship between financial literacy and empowerment, and a weak but significant positive relationship between technical know-how and empowerment. Conversely, access to finance exhibited a significant negative relationship with empowerment, suggesting that financial access alone does not guarantee empowerment without adequate skills and guidance. The study concludes that beyond financial access alone, capability development is the primary driver of empowerment among 4Ps beneficiaries. It recommends strengthening entrepreneurial training programs, particularly in financial literacy and technical skills, and complementing them with mentorship and capacity-building support. By advancing women’s economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods, the study contributes to Sustainable Development Goals 1 (No Poverty), 5 (Gender Equality), and 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), highlighting its sustainability impact in transforming short-term social assistance into long-term empowerment and self-reliance.