Poverty In The Philippines, Our Biggest Issue
This is my submission for The Philippine Issues Writing Project. With much thought, it becomes clear, if it’s not already, that poverty in our nation is by far the most important issue that we face today. Because it touches on so many aspects of our nation, including injustice, and the hindering of our own progress, we must address it with a resolve like we have never had before.
It is poverty, in my opinion, that has kept us in the grips of corruption, or even vice versa, it is poverty that has kept our youth from striving to become their full potential, and it is poverty that is both a symptom and a manifestation of the injustices that occurs on all levels of our society. Both cause and effect, a web of under-performance that has thrust our nation behind, always trying to catch up to the rest of the world.
Poverty, my dear friends, readers, colleagues, and fellow Filipinos, is literally the death sentence of thousands, if not millions, of our brothers and sisters.
Poverty itself becomes the spark of many debates, including population control in The Philippines, corruption in government and private sector, medical treatment for the poor, adequate health care for all, the strategy of debt reduction, capital expenditure focus, microeconomic strategies, macroeconomic strategies, crime, and even the selling of kidneys.
And as if that’s not enough of a burden, our current government touts its many accomplishments, and is yet to be candid about our worsening state of poverty. Last year, economic growth hit a 31-year high of 7.3 percent, and yet it is a fact that the number of Filipinos under the poverty level has increased. And thus, we must conclude, that even with such increases in our economy, these all become just numbers, until we maintain and sustain the economic growth necessary to implement microeconomic strategies that will alleviate the plight of our poor brethren.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is a great resource to dive deep into the causes of poverty in The Philippines. The research papers, and the articles, are greatly insightful, and has given us a clearer picture of facts, not just rhetoric. For example, and the following point is important,
The Philippine empirical record demonstrates that the poverty headcount declines when the growth rate of average family income is higher than the rate of inflation. The flipside is an increase in the poverty headcount when the reverse is true, whether or not there was overall economic growth.
That is why, when we talk about economic growth, this will never suffice as something to cheer about, when we have wages that are stagnant, and when we have jobs that are non-existent. Clearly, economic growth is a number that can be influenced by so many factors that have nothing to do with the well being of poverty stricken individuals.
A great deal of analysis has also been done by World Bank, and I invite you to read their two part report on poverty in The Philippines.
Indeed, in a recent Reauters report the preceding argument of economic growth as a non-indicator is confirmed to a great degree,
The Philippines’ poor are expanding by around 1.3 million people every year, as rising food prices and sluggish wage growth mean that more families cannot afford to feed themselves, government data on Wednesday showed.
The bleak picture of 3.8 million people, nearly double the population of Slovenia, slipping below the poverty line in 2003-2006 is an embarrassment for President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, who has paraded her government’s anti-poverty credentials amid a growing economy.
It is thus a fact that 28 Million Filipinos cannot even make the $1 a day that is necessary to get by.
This would take a hundreds of hurricanes, cyclones, and typhoons, to come up with this number of individuals that is dirt poor and struggling to survive. We think that Myanmar is a tyrant against its own people, what can we say about ourselves when such a tragic number of individuals, 28 million, can barely eek out a day by day lifestyle built on noodles, because maybe rice is too expensive nowadays.
It is almost too much to bear, almost enough to knock me out of my own chair as to the astonishing and astronomical number of individuals who are in suffering.
And so, the great debate ensues, as to how poverty can be alleviated, or if we are on the right track, or more specifically, if the current administration is on the right track when it comes to economic gains and the alleviation of poverty. While we debate, poverty becomes worse. While the politicians tout economic gains, poverty worsens. Surely, there is a need to take the blindfolds away from these politicians, and let them see for themselves, the result of their inequities and their policies or non-policies.
The reason a focus on poverty is so vital, is that it touches on so many social and economic issues that our nation faces. Poverty is the result of the continued result of our government’s lackluster performance as a manager of our money. In my opinion, bordering on criminal.
As I wrote a few weeks back, in response to Walden Bello’s article, “In The Shadow of Death”, while the repayment of debt becomes his main focal point in which to launch an attack, I contend that it must be a coordinated effort waged on multiple fronts, including corruption. But, yes, debt is a major stumbling block in which a vast amount of our wealth is being “siphoned off”.
And I find it encouraging, that individuals such as Mr. Bello, has had the fortitude to not only attack this issue with rhetoric, but have a clear mindset and a clear game plan as to how this is occurring, and how we may be able to get our Filipino Citizens currently living in poverty out of their despair.
I have no doubt, this is a major undertaking, because it involves so many aspects of our society, not just government. It is easy to blame government, but blaming looks into the past, instead of looking forward. We can, however, find solutions, both economic, political, and social. And indeed, all of these must be utilized, because as our issues in The Philippines is multi-dimensional, so too is the issue of poverty.
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If we compared the poverty enveloping our country with other Southeas Asian neighboors like Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Indonesia. Ours is far worst. The shanties where the poorest of our countrymen live cannot even be considered house suited for human. Our government keeps a blind eye on these. In the coming years and with the ongoing crises (energy, food, etc.) and inflation, their conditions will further worsen. It will reach the tipping point, we will be certain that civil conflagration by the poorest masses will erupt in our country. Our call to our government is for them to wake up and address the situation pronto.
@mabini, exactly, looking at the studies being done by ADB, United Nations, and other organizations, our past 25 years, as Walden Bello also states, has been a lackluster quarter century where even Burma and other underperforming nations has performed better than us..
And in the end, our government must realize, that if they cannot do the job, as you say Mabini, a tipping point will be reached..
I am just astounded, that we seemingly have not reached that point yet.
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if i am to compare the country with the inclining neighborhood, there’s nothing more to think of a complicated scene. Ever since history had come to its existence, Filipinos proved to be resilient at all the hard times of predicament. Poverty, not to explored on the unrevealed terrain, was just an annoying catastrophe yet provocative to the masses, that really tested the nation’s resiliency. If poverty has been a big issue, “juan” must have to be keen enough to find the real key.
i cannot deal deep’ on the issue for lack of facts. but the mere rising cost of staple that reamins unabated meron pa bang mas malaking issue?
Our government are very rude!! they are all the same!! corruptions,,poverty,,oil price hike,,etc.. ang alam lang nila gawin ay IBULSA ANG PERA NG MGA MAMAMAYANG PILIPINO!! i hate them!!
wla lng,,
we, students of MSU particularly the dept. of SOCIAL WORK, WANTED TO CHANGE THE CONDITION OF THE FILIPINO “DISADVANTAGE” PEOPLE. PLS. PRAY ALWAYS ….
is poverty really and is one of the major cause of crime?
is poverty really and is one of the major cause of crime?
I’m a student and for me this topic is a very sensitive one although it is a major concern is the administration help us overcome this kind of problem.when jun Lozada appear we suddenly think of or the media focus on what he says.But can it help us Filipino’s to overcome poverty.im saying that poverty has cause and effect and it’s causing a major damage through out our society and critically affect our economy
maybe the major problem is politics because it is now a mechanism of having power and greed.we can’t stand this fight for overcoming poverty it is also a human error because the who want power is eager to get one……..
Former resident of Pampanga. Corruption, greed, nepotism, cronyism, sexual slavery of teenage protitutes in Pampanga is the source of the poverty in the PI. Not a safe place to invest . Only more foreign owned Whore Houses and Police on the take.
The largest single Domestic Industry in the Philippines is the Domestic Sex Industry. ( Pampanga, Cebu, Puerto Vallera, etc., etc. As long as the Roman Catholic Philippinos are willing to accept this ( actually a Felony under P I law ) , then no hope for any decent investment. Mostly Japanese, Korean and Europeans now. The Americans have become ” poor cousins ” in Puta Pampanga. When the Philippino government closed the wealthy US bases in the Philippines , the Senators said the US caused the prostitution in the Philippines. The Japanese would rescue the PI now. Yankee Go Home. What a joke. Who runs the Pampanga Bars and Whore Houses now ? Mostly European money of questionable sources.
Fields ave., Balibago, Pampanga is one of the largest Red Light areas in the world. Thousands of attractive young prostitutes from the remote provinces. Mostly Visaya . Where they are shipped to Pampanga by their families. Sad. 17 and 18 year old prostitutes supporting desperate province families with their bodies. Some come with their sisters. Many have large extended families , cousins, etc. working in the bars. Bars operated by ” dummy front ” foreigners. Cops and politicians on the take. Millions in foreign money attracted to the area. No foreign families. Mostly groups of old men from Japan and Korea. Philippino Econ. 101 ?? I have talked to decent Pampanga family Philippinos. They shield their children from the Red Light Area. They say they have no choice . Really ? I wonder . Also, Kuala Lampur, Malayasia has thousands of Philippino prostitutes , allegedly . OFW’s ?? Just send that money home honey.
Long term U. S. resident of the Philippines . The grinding poverty of the Philippines is the result of the culture of corruption that is part of the Phillipine way of life. The social injustice, greed, nepotism, cronyism is staggering. Disfunctional court system , criminal PNP , bureaucratic corruption is routine. It seems everybody is on the take. No meaningful foreign investment and grinding poverty are the result.
phil. is really in dire poverty ryt now…as we say we are in the “global melt down” ryt.? how can we ever find a way.?
.i think our country is suffering ryt now in this what you call “poverty”…our generation is still coping with this problem!!
the government is very insensitive about that matter and i don’t think its right!!!
poverty is the effect of corruption!!!!!! i hate politician but i love Polscie
well…that’s life we can not do anything about corruption because it is already part of our culture….
well…that’s life we can not do anything about corruption because it is already part of our culture….
poverty is the biggest problem that our country is facing today..despite the corruptions,lack of education,jobs and others..poverty is the cause of many violent acts like prostitution,kidnapping,scams and even death because of hunger..but we must not run out of hope my fellow filipinos..because someday we will achieve the things which really belongs for all of us.
Poverty and its many faces. Sometimes, I am compelled to consider this: is it possible that poverty-in an economic context, is just a manifestation of another kind? “poverty of values and character” , maybe?
@kristie well if we say we cannot do something about it, it means that we have given up. as they say, if we are not part of the solution, we are part of the problem
We steal because it is in our culture, advocated by our corrupt
leaders.
poverty in the philippines is mainly because of a bad culture and a non proactive people.
why dont you guys just give some opinions on how to solve such problems rather than to keep saying it again and again,.!!!
POVERTY IN THE PHILIPPINES IS CAUSE BY ONLY ONE THING! THE ABSENCE OF OUR CULTURAL VALUES AND INSENSITIVITY (RESPECT) TO ONE’S LIFE.
Philippines is a very rich country with vast labor and natural resources (marine, agriculture, mineral and non-mineral, energy, forest, etc.). If only the government can manage it properly, it would be enough to solved the poverty problem, feed the people, live a better life, and make the next generation in abundance.
Elmer Hofilena
Geoscientist
108 Palisade Ave., Cliffside Park, NJ, USA, 07010
Have you heard of Hyperwage Theory? What is a poverty essay without mentioning this proposed solution published five years ago? I dont pretend to understand it but you should include it in your analysis
a professor of ours in up visayas has formulated a certain way to make us learn the philippines more……..he paged a question Philippines forsaken or not? and we are to debate on that the whole semester whre ours lessons on basic political science shall revovle and as a student i was hopelessly and emotionally debating on the side of the optimists still but all my arguments go to nothing as the side of the forsaken doubles each day……….my god it sems to be a lifeline for us not forsakens that we had to find news every day for hope of the philippines imagine how grueling it is to see newspapapers full of bad news omigod!!!!!that situation is really harnessing us upto the point of emotionally defendng your side in a very intellectual manner which is very hard this news about poverty was taken up last month and he argued to us so much how poverty in the philippines becomes an option rather than fate ……shit when sahll i see a good assessment of our country…………i dont hate the president nor blame her……….blame those male chauvinist pigs around him including her husband whom the two sons really inherited greed hope you will die soon and see how hell burns youyr asses
instead of dealing with poverty we must conquer it.
this page really spill everything! i am a filipino, and so are you, kaya pa nating labanan to..AN WARAY!
Poverty really makes our lives miserable. . . .And yes, our government is the major factor of poverty. . .Most of the politicians just only get what they want, even the money of the Innocent Filipinos — dead or alive!
All of us shouldn’t depend on those corrupts!!!!!!!! We should do something to stop these havocs
r u serious? i believe poverty is a symptom. it is a result of an underlying cause. have you asked yourself these questions? 1. why is henry sy the richest filipino today? 2. how did he become the richest filipino? and 3. how can i be like him?
The only difference is henry sy decided to be rich, while majority of the filipinos decided to just be poor and live in poverty.
the government shouldn’t know it by the way..
and yet they don’t know how to solve it……
because they are not living in this situation
they don’t know how hard is it……..
Forget the government. Corrupt pigs. The only thing we can do is to never lose the passion. The passion for a better quality of life and of our heritage. I know it’s so easy for me to say this, living far away from Philippines and all but someday, I will go back to my home, our home, and continue the fight.
I agree with everyone here specially “drippingmind’s comment on March 15th, 2009 at 4:48 pm” in that maybe poverty does not only exist in a physical sense. It’s in all of us and we have become accustomed to it. Have we forgotten who we are.. dammit!!! We’re FILIPINOS. We’re the people who fought and struggled for independence from colonial powers. We are the people who are looked down upon by everyone and yet we are capable of great achievements. Just type filipino achievers in google. It’s all there. We’re the people who can fix anything and who are full of talent to make a difference.
So why the need to ramble about all this stuff about ourselves. It’s because, we need to know who we are and what our standards are. We need to know that poverty is not part of each and everyone of us. We have to remove it off our system. Forget the government. They will not be of any help. If we want change…It will just have to start from us…from within.
Philippine Poverty.
Bad education is the cause of philippine poverty. Everyone must reorient themselves to Good Education. Good Education is the most precious wealth. Only in God you can find good.
Be educated: educate yourself, educate your family, educate your community, educate your nation for the development of all and not of the few. Be innovative to help others sustainably when you are at good atmosphere and earning much. If you are intelligent and have more work opportunities, leave your current work and find another one so that you can provide vacancy to those unemployed individual. If you are wealthy, your wealth is an oppotunity given to you by God so that you can demonstrate the processes you experienced with God and the world in making wealth to advance human civilization and eradicate poverty, that is you yourself had experienced.
Be educated first on basic human relations. You will be killed by the beast of the earth if you dont have knowledge of human relations- this will make your life at no count. Read the Holy Bible, it is the best source of knowledge on human relations and human living. Respect to one another is the term.
Be educated and take the most advantageous career and communication.
Be educated and dont foget food security. Modern Industries are their for the growth of human civilization. But, you must have basic knowledge of food security and ecology, that for any disaster you can stand at your own feet and help others: at least you know how to grow food with or without fertilizer, with critical water. You must have the knowledge of Noah, or the irrigation inteligence of the egyptian and romans or the engineer and physics thinking of Ifugao or the agroforestry knowledge of Adam.
Be educated in trade and market. Your surplus materials and foods are you wealth, learn to market them and sustain your industries.
Be educated in industries: learn manufacturing and industrial development. After the land are saturated with farmers, there is no more area to let others work. You need to process the suplus for future use. You may need equipments, energy and others. You need to mine materials to make machines and equipments to sustain your agriculture. You should know that agriculture is sustained by industrial production and metal machine manufacturing. Without industrial technology and machines your agricultural tools would be stones forever.
There are much more for us to know to advance our development and jump away from one dollar a day life.
It is you who can decide. Is is me who will decide. It is us. who can decide.
The previous years I always decided things and were done. I am happy for what God had done to me, at least I made help in my own little way and God was happy and I am happy too. You know I am not rich but I am a thinker. For this time again I will decide?.. I have my decision now. Do you have your decision now? Then lets move, let us get good education, let us work together or with one idea of going away from poverty, let us decide to install good leaders, let us go out make and gather capital, make good investment in the Philippines to generate job for all Filipinos, let us provide people with knowledge and assistance for sources of jobs. Only by then I, you, we can count: that we have done and not blame entities. After all you, as what you have seen and perceived, are the one responsible.
Pedro