Still poor, more poor

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor GUILLERMO TEJIDA III Desk Editor NANETTE L. GUADALQUIVER Busines Editor CEDELF P. TUPAS Sports Editor (On Leave) RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

In the 2006 Official Poverty Statistics report that was recently released by the National Statistical Coordination Board, Secretary General Romulo Virola, defined “poor” referring to those whose incomes fall below the threshold determined by the government, or those who cannot afford to provide in a sustained manner for their minimum basic needs for food, health, education, housing, and other social amenities in life.

The same NSCB report said 3.8 million more Filipinos fell into poverty in the last three years, bringing the number of poor Filipinos to a total of 27.6 million in 2006 compared to 23.8 million in 2003.

The picture becomes even bleaker when the report talks about subsistence levels or the food line, which refers to Filipinos whose income cannot support even their food requirements.  NSCB data shows that the so-called food line increased by 14 percent, from the 2003 level of 10.8 million to 12.2 million in 2006, meaning that 1.4 million more Filipinos cannot even afford to feed themselves.

One of the reasons cited for the increased incidence of poverty was the population growth, which at an annual rate of over two percent was too much even for a healthy economic growth.  According to the NCSB, the rise in poverty also happened in the wake of the increase in the value-added tax from 10 percent to 12 percent, since everybody, without exception, for every purchase of basic necessities shoulders the tax.  The June 2005 increase in jeepney fares, as well as the series of destructive typhoons that severely affected agricultural production was also among the aggravating factors that contributed to the increased poverty.

This kind of data is the biggest reason why this government cannot rest on its macro-economic laurels.  Unless the positive gains in the economy have trickled down and are finally felt by the general population, especially the poorest of the poor, this administration has not yet earned the right to pat itself on the back.*