POVERTY IN THE PHILIPPINES: AN ISSUE THEN AND

NOW

Almero, Cherish Allaine

Carandang, Karl Andrei M.

ECE – 1202

May 2019

Ms. Ma. Goldemar P. Abiera

The Contemporary World

Philippines is one of the third-world countries in the world. One of the biggest

issues in the Philippines that every politician promises every election is poverty. For the

past 4 decades, the Filipino people who are suffering from poverty are dramatically

increasing due to inflation and the never-ending price hike of fuel, foods and basic

commodities. Hunger is the partner of poverty because for every people who are suffering

poverty there is little to no food on their plates. Climate Change is also a factor for poverty

here in the Philippines since it makes the agriculturists and the agriculture have a hard time

in adjusting to the changing weather pattern. Corruption on the other side is also a reason

for having an extreme poverty here in the Philippines as they are greedy and cannot address

the real issue regarding to poverty. Lastly is the lack of education of the Filipino people

which results in easily being manipulated by other people specially by politicians.

Providing solutions to poverty cannot be done by one man alone. We Filipinos should be

responsible in solving the major causes of poverty in the Philippines.

INTRODUCTION

In our world, there is enough food to feed the whole population. However,

according to Food and Agricultural Organization of UN’s recent report, one out of every

six or seven people are receiving insufficient food, and there is a possibility that one out of

three children is underweight. Today a massive number of people are living under poverty

and many are dying of hunger each day. According to a report, 40% of the world’s

population is living under poverty.

Poverty is defined as “people living in household below 60 percent of median income”

(Raffo et al). Encarta Dictionary also states poverty as “the state of not having enough

money to take care of basic needs such as food, clothing and housing.” Encyclopedia

Britannica defines poverty as “the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable

amount of money or material possessions”. All the definitions assert that poverty is a state

in which one cannot afford to achieve a basic living standard such as food and clothing.

Poverty may be considered as the condition of being extremely poor.

Poverty is classified into two categories according to World Bank. These are

income poverty and human poverty. Income poverty is related with only “financial

income” whereas human poverty includes lack of “proper diet, clothing, shelter and work”.

So far, we’ve defined poverty but what is hunger?

In many sources including Encyclopedia Britannica, hunger is viewed as a feeling

we have when we need something to eat. Both poverty and hunger are spread all over the

world but the degree varies from country to country. The less developed countries suffer

from it strongly whereas the developed countries are affected to a much lesser degree.

Poverty and hunger have been recurrent challenges in the Philippines and have

again come to the fore in the wake of the current global financial crisis and rising food,

fuel, and commodity prices. Poverty is a social condition that is characterized with the aid

of the lack of resources necessary for fundamental survival or vital to meet a positive

minimal stage of living standards anticipated for the location where one lives. The earnings

stage that determines poverty is different from location of each place, so social scientists
come to an agreement that it will be an aid as a prerequisite of existence to have a sufficient

entry of food, clothing, and shelter.

BODY

Poverty in the Philippines stay a challenge. In the past four decades, the proportion

of households residing below the legit poverty line has declined slowly and inconsistently.

Poverty discount has been heaps slower than in neighboring international places such as

the People's Republic of China, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Economic growth has

lengthy gone through extend and bust cycles, and cutting-edge episodes of moderate

financial enlargement have had restrained effect on the poor. Great inequality in the course

of income brackets, regions, and sectors, as well as unmanaged population growth, are seen

some of the key elements constraining poverty bargain efforts.

The Philippines is a country located in Southeast Asia comprised of greater than

7,000 islands. Poverty has verified to be one of the most significant challenges going

through this country and its citizens. Filipinos are having a tough time surviving in such

difficult conditions, and greater and extra are falling into excessive poverty.

In the Philippines, the number of people in extreme poverty has increased. The

economic systems of a nation may also be the principal cause of poverty and hunger. A

number of international organizations which are working with poverty and hunger believe

that the principal underlying cause of poverty and hunger is the “ordinary operation of the

economic and political systems in the world”. In the developing countries especially in

African, control over resources and income is based on military power. Therefore,
everything is in the hand of people who are leading a comfortable life whereas the poor are

the victim of the system.

According to the Asian Development Bank, the important causes of poverty

includes low monetary growth, a weak agricultural sector, expanded population charges

and an excessive volume of inequality. Because of these factors, there are a lot of results

of poverty in the Philippines that make it challenging for humans to stay in such

circumstances.

People in poverty generally ride persistent starvation or insufficient or absent

schooling and fitness care and are commonly alienated from mainstream society. Poverty

is a result of the uneven distribution of material resources and wealth on a world scale and

inside nations. Sociologists see it as a social condition of societies with unequal and

inequitable distribution of profits and wealth, and the exploitative effects of world

capitalism.

There are many factors that are assumed to be root causes for the existence of

poverty in the world. Lack of resources, an unequal income distribution, conflict, drought,

famine and climate change, for example, are some of the causes of poverty and hunger in

many countries.

One of the causes of poverty and hunger according to Food and Agricultural

Organization of UN is conflict of international relations. FAO strongly believes that large

number of people are poor and hungry due to conflict either inside their nation or outside.
 Hunger can be viewed as the cause of poverty in a such a way that it causes poor

health, low levels of energy, and even mental impairment. Due to this fact, hunger can lead

to even greater poverty by reducing people’s ability to work and learn.

Climate change is another serious cause of hunger and poverty as global warming

is increasing rapidly. As the result of change in climate, drought in the world is increasing

day by day. Flooding and farming practices are other key issues regarding poverty and

hunger. As it is mentioned earlier, factors such as land rights and ownership, land for non-

productive use (such as tobacco industries and floriculture) increasing of export of food

when the country’s people don’t have enough to eat, poor methods of farming, war,

drought, and many more are causes of poverty and hunger.

Corruption, cronyism and nepotism are also the reason of hunger and poverty in the

Philippines. Corruption does not begin in the government but in ourselves. We may be rich

but we always seek for more power, on the contrary less fortunate people seek for more

because of the lack that they experience. Greed of power is the main cause of corruption

and the want to have more money. Almost everything in this world runs under the power

of money and almost everything can be controlled by money because of poverty.

Lack of education is another reason for hunger and poverty in the Philippines.

Education is a key device for a large vary of global developments, and one that many of us

would expect is getting simpler to get entry to for more and more human beings worldwide.

However, data are nevertheless at an all-time high for those who are victim to receiving

poor, or even worse, no education at all.

corruption and lack of education:

By assessing the methodologies that have been successful in other nations and

modifying them to fit the Philippines’ unique needs, the partnership of the government and

the international community established a successful food aid program. The most important

consideration when working to eliminate hunger in the Philippines is fostering

independence. Humanitarian organizations and the governments involved will not only

provide food, but they will also help families become self-sufficient. If aid continues to be

this sustainable and organizations continue to educate household about efficient and

healthy lifestyles, Filipinos will develop their own economy and reduce hunger in the

process.

Climate change is not only being experienced in the Philippines but in the whole

world but because the Philippines is a third-world country, we are suffering the most to the

wrath of mother nature. It is linked to poverty because it is difficult for the agricultural

sectors to plant or harvest foods for there is an imbalanced or abnormal pattern of weather

that affects the crops. Based on the reports, climate change cannot be stopped anymore but

we humans still must do something to lessen the continuous depleting of the ozone layer

that causes climate change. We must reduce the use of carbon emissions, plastics and other

harmful for the environment. It is also never too late to plant trees so the future will not be

suffering the worst of it all.

To put an aid or to completely stop corruption we must begin with ourselves first.

Be contended on what you have and work clean and hard to earn for that money. It is okay
to seek for more but to do evil things to achieve it is not. Next is to have a proper and

affordable education to everyone. Because of poverty, non-educated people tend to sell

their votes and be fooled by politicians or rich people.

They pervade public life, preserving tax revenues low and hurting efforts to

alleviate poverty. Charges of corruption, graft, and cronyism are frequent among

government officers at all levels. These problems are so entrenched that Filipinos have

come to be given cronyism and the diversion of a small share of money as natural.

Corruption is extensively viewed to have negative results on financial development

through its bad have an effect on the extent and best of public funding and the effectively

of government services. It affects us all. It threatens sustainable economic development,

ethical values and justice; it destabilizes our society and endangers the rule of law. It

undermines the establishments and values of our democracy. But due to the fact public

insurance policies and public assets are generally advisable to negative people, it is they

who suffer the dangerous outcomes of corruption most grievously. To be established on

the authorities for housing, healthcare, education, protection and welfare, makes the poor

most inclined to corruption on account that it stalls provider delivery. Delays in

infrastructure development, negative building excellent and layers of extra prices are all

penalties of corruption. Many acts of corruption deprive our citizens of their constitutional

and their human rights.

Poverty not only encourages corruption but corrupt public institutions, in turn,

exacerbate poverty. It is not a good thing at all. The poor engage in corrupt practices out

of desperation, but the only people who benefit in the long run are those already in power.

It's no coincidence that the most corrupt countries often have the poorest citizens or are
otherwise ravished by war and violence. When the poor do not have what they will eat,

they are forced to make money through cut-corners which are corrupt. The countries at the

bottom of the corruption rankings, mostly in northern Europe, are among the wealthiest in

the world. While it is difficult to say whether poverty causes corruption or corruption

causes poverty, there is no question that the two are linked.

• Employment Creation: The government and powerful individuals should work

together to create jobs for the masses. Those countries that lack technological

development should invite other countries and private companies to help them build

their technological infrastructure. When the masses make money and learn skills as

employees of those companies, they can start their own businesses. This will, in turn,

create more jobs for the citizens of the country. Governments should encourage skill

acquisition programs and employment seminars. The people that gain those skills will

develop their own businesses with time and start employing others. Within

companies, mentorship programs can ensure that skills and knowledge are passed on

to younger employees.

• Pay Public Employees a Living Wage: It may seem counter-intuitive to pay corrupt

employees more, but if police officers and low-level bureaucrats make enough money

by working, they won't feel the need to take bribes. For example, in Nigeria,

policemen are considered to be the most corrupt institution in the country, according

to the 2003 Nigeria Corruption Survey Study. In eight of the nine most corrupt nations

in 2013, more than 80% of residents considered the police to be corrupt. Public

employees should also undergo anti-corruption training and education, emphasizing

the negative effects of corruption.

monitor corruption in government and businesses. In corrupt countries, the use of

technology can be preferable to relying on anti-corruption agencies staffed with

friends of corrupt governments. The installation of these technologies should be done

secretly, without the companies’ awareness, or in a way that makes them impossible

to be tampered with.

• Anti-Corruption Bodies: Each country should have anti-corruption initiatives. At the

same time, there should be an international body monitoring corruption around the

world without the need to answer to the rich and powerful within corrupt societies.

The problem with some anti-corruption bodies is that many of them do not carry out

their functions well. Many of them are too weak. Any country with the strong anti-

corruption body will win the war against corruption, and international cooperation can

enhance domestic efforts.

• Curbing Drug Intake: Reducing the corruption that results from the drug trade

involves the efforts of both the government and its people. The drug trade relies on

the demand for hard drugs. Seminars should be held on a regular basis where people

will be taught the negative impact of hard drugs. Governments should also sponsor

television programs where doctors who have good teaching skills will highlight the

disadvantages of hard drugs. In institutions of higher learning, a course on drug use

should be integrated into the curriculum. This will help reduce corrupt practices to

some extent.

Lack of budget of the government and lack of willingness of the politicians or the

rich to help the low-lying Filipinos get the education everybody deserves. Lack of schools
in the rural area, lack of teachers and classrooms is also a reason on why there is lack of

education here in the Philippines. Poverty is linked to this because various works need to

have an education attainment in order to be hired. In addition is the lack of available jobs

here in the Philippines because of low interest of investors because of low economic rate.

Poverty is the biggest enemy of training on each and every level. Poor students fall

sufferer to health troubles and way of life that avoid their capability to learn about or learn.

Education can help in eradication of poverty, these in poverty can only be advantage from

education. People dwelling in poverty may additionally quit going to college and they go

for some different work which leaves them except literacy and skills. Right education can

carry people from poverty and can additionally improve their fitness issues, economic

crisis, it can trade their lives. It is the truth that poverty is each motive and effect of lack of

access to education.

Education is a dynamic procedure involving individuals, groups, and society in

which they live. It is a technique which is fashioned with the aid of the past, and at the

identical time, one which need to be subtle always to meet challenges which can't be

avoided in the future. Much has been performed in current years toward the provision

equitable get right of entry to all who are certified and are looking for further education.

With innovative and touchy leadership each at the authorities’ level and institutional level

greater schooling has the capability to make the most to the fullest the talents and potentials.

The challenge on the other hand need to be met without sacrificing these underlying values.

Similar to poverty, the most corrupt countries are often those with low rates of adult

literacy. Literacy can prevent corruption in a number of ways. First, those who can read

well are more likely to read newspapers and online media, and therefore be able to critically
evaluate their own public institutions and politicians. Corruption feeds off ignorance.

Second, basic education makes people more likely to find stable careers, and therefore they

are less desperate.

CONCLUSION

There are very many interrelated causes of poverty. These are difficult to

distinguish from the symptoms of poverty. But the root causes are to be found in human

nature. As humans we have an amazing capacity for compassion and selflessness, but the

root causes of poverty are still to be found in greed, fear, indifference and prejudice. It is a

challenge for us all. We are made in the image of God and with His help we can overcome

those things that cause so much suffering in the world. Corruption is not limited to the one

taking the bribe. The giver of the bribe, whether a wealthy government, a big corporate

entity or an individual seeking an unfair advantage is equally at fault. Corruption damages

us all. It is probably the largest single obstacle to giving aid by donor countries. Many

people cite corruption as the reason they are reluctant to give aid. Things like fear and greed

are very seldom mentioned in academic writings as a cause of poverty. But if their

opposites, compassion and unselfishness, ruled the day, poverty would be largely

eliminated. It may be uncomfortable to think about greed, indifference, prejudice etc., but

they lie behind all the more obvious causes of poverty.

The world community has the fabric and all that is wished to stop and battle hunger

and poverty. Yet, humans are hungry even when there is ample food due to the fact it is

not equally allotted and due to political unrests. Providing aid meals for the hungry now is

not an ever-lasting solution to address poverty and hunger. We need to find a sustainable
answer to eradicate starvation and poverty. Poverty and hunger are almost inseparable.

Poverty is the main cause of hunger, when people do not have money they can not afford

to buy food and support themselves. Hence, world hunger is a symptom of world poverty.

Although hunger is caused by many factors, the most dominant reason is linked with

poverty.

Educating ourselves is just the start. What we need is to take actions and be part of

the change. Once you’ve managed to change yourself for the better, you’re now liable to

educate and inspire others as well. Providing solutions to poverty cannot be done by one

man alone. We Filipinos should be responsible in solving the major causes of poverty in

the Philippines.

REFERENCES

World Bank Database, Philippines at a Glance, 9 September 2004,

www.siteresources.worldbank.org

Cesar Cororaton and J. Cockburn, Trade Reform and Poverty in the Philippines: A

Computable General Equilibrium Microsimulation Analysis, 2002

Poverty Statistics, National Statistical Coordination Board,

http://www.nscb.gov.ph/poverty

Bureau of Agricultural Statistics, Performance of Philippine Agriculture, January-June

2004.

National Wage and Productivity Commission, http://www.nwpc.dole.gov.ph/