Development and Validation of the Amuma Sa Barangay (Nourish the Barangay) Program Participants’ Perception Scale

Abstract

Aim/Purpose: This study aimed to develop a measurement scale to assess key constructs related to the perceptions of Amuma Sa Barangay (Nourish the Barangay) participants. This instrument was designed to systematically capture participants’ views of how this program influences them. As such, it serves as a valuable tool for policymakers, particularly the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)–Region VII, in evaluating the program’s outcomes and informing evidence-based improvements to strengthen the program further and expand women‘s empowerment across the country at the barangay level.

Introduction/Background: The Amuma Sa Barangay program was initiated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region VII to support women from marginalized sectors through capacity-building interventions, particularly in financial literacy and savings habits. This study examines participants’ perceptions across three core dimensions: Women’s Empowerment, Financial Management, and Community-Based Engagement. These dimensions constitute the conceptual foundation of the program as contextualized by DILG Region VII. Drawing on the interrelated nature of these dimensions, an instrument was developed to assess the extent to which each construct is associated with and reinforces the others from the perspective of program participants.

Methodology: This study employed a literature-informed sequential exploratory design to ensure that the instrument was conceptually grounded in existing frameworks of women empowerment, financial behavior, and community engagement, while remaining culturally responsive to the Amuma Sa Barangay program context. The combination of qualitative content validation through literature and program document analysis with rigorous quantitative psychometric testing strengthened the methodological robustness of the scale development process. This approach supported the reliability of the instrument for program evaluation and policy-relevant assessment.

Findings: Content validity, as assessed by expert comments, led to the removal of 14 of the initial 50 items. Specifically, three items were removed from the Women’s Empowerment dimension, seven from Financial Management, and four from Community-Based Engagement. This refinement resulted in a total of 36 items retained after content validation–14 items under Women’s Empowerment, 5 under Financial Management, and 17 under Community-Based Engagement. Subsequently, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed using SPSS Version 26, employing Principal Axis Factoring and Varimax Rotation. During EFA, 22 items were progressively removed due to low factor loadings and cross-loadings, leaving 14 items with satisfactory communalities ranging from .344 to .770. The total variance explained by the final EFA model was 66.61%. Following EFA, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was conducted using AMOS Version 20 to test the hypothesized factor structure. The CFA model showed strong standardized loadings for all indicators under the three latent constructs: Women Empowerment, Financial Management, and Community-Based Engagement. Covariances were introduced between select indicators to improve model fit. The final model demonstrated acceptable fit indices: Comparative Fit Index and Tucker-Lewis Index > .90, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation = .077, Standardized Root Mean Squared Residual = .051, and χ²/df = 2.295. These values confirmed a good model fit and validated the factorial structure of the Amuma Participants’ Perception Scale (APPS) instrument. Convergent validity was confirmed through strong standardized loadings, with each construct meeting the thresholds for Composite Reliability and Average Variance Extracted. Discriminant validity was also established, as the inter-construct correlations were below the .85 threshold, confirming that each construct was empirically distinct. Lastly, internal consistency reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. Each construct, as well as the overall APPS scale, demonstrated excellent reliability, with an overall alpha coefficient of .90, indicating strong consistency in measuring participants’ perceptions of the program.

Contribution/Impact on Society: This study provides a validated instrument (APPS) to assess women’s empowerment outcomes of the Amuma Sa Barangay program, emphasizing financial literacy and savings behavior. The tool supports evidence-based policy and program evaluation by enabling local government units and the DILG to monitor impact, refine interventions, and promote economic inclusion among marginalized women in the Philippines.

Recommendations: Based on the findings, it is recommended that DILG Region VII integrate the APPS instrument into routine program monitoring to support evidence-based evaluation and scaling of the Amuma Sa Barangay program in Region VII. APPS results can also guide facilitator training, module refinement, and targeted interventions in barangays with low engagement or weak financial behaviors, thereby strengthening women’s empowerment and community participation.

Research Limitation: The study was limited to selected barangays in Region VII, so findings may not be generalizable to all regions or in urban contexts. The study also focused on participant perceptions; thus, such self-reported data might be subject to response biases, such as social desirability or recall limitations. Lastly, a cross-sectional design was employed, which cannot establish causality between financial literacy and empowerment outcomes.

Future Research: Building on this study, future researchers could use the APPS instrument in other regions and across urban-rural divides to test its generalizability. Long-term studies may also be conducted to assess how perceptions and behaviors evolve, particularly after every cycle. Inclusion of male participants could also be used to compare outcomes. Lastly, future researchers could combine participant self-assessments with external program metrics to validate findings across data types.