Understanding 11
Culture, Society and 1
Politics
Quarter 4- Modules 4
Writers:
Eric F. Fungo, LPCNSHS-Manuyo Campus
Estella Marie A. Oclares, LPCNSHS-Manuyo Campus
Rosanna T. Sarte, LPCNSHS-Manuyo Campus
Maria Cristita B. Cuerdo, LPCNSHS-Manuyo Campus
Content Validator:
Eric F. Fungo, LPCNSHS-Manuyo Campus
Language Validator
Mary Rose B. Baita – GANHS - SHS
Consolidator/Team Leader
Mary Jane Aranda, PES Camella Annex
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Lesson Government Programs and Initiatives
4 in Addressing Social Inequalities
Most Essential Learning Competency
● Explain government programs and initiatives in addressing social inequalities e.g. local,
national, global
What is social inequality?
● Social inequality is the existence of uneven opportunities and rewards for diverse social
positions or statuses within a group or society.
● Social inequality refers to relational processes in society that have the effect of limiting or
harming a group's social status, social class, and social circle.
● Social inequality is the condition of unequal access to the benefits of belonging to any society.
In a purely equal society, every citizen is equally able to contribute to the overall well-being of
that society, and they are equally able to benefit from their membership within that society.
Social inequalities encompass various aspects of social hierarchy and exclusion. Studies of
inequalities point to the following trends:
● Socioeconomic inequalities of income and wealth have been increasing in societies. The key
trend in these societies is towards growing ranks of “corporate-rich” representing a “new
wealth”.
● Sociopolitical inequalities seem to change in two opposed directions: one trend is
towards democratization, the other is towards the concentration of power in the hands of non-
elective elites.
● In the sociocultural sphere, inequalities seem to narrow down, and this egalitarian trend is
clearly linked to declining gender gaps, increasing education and the spreading egalitarian
popular culture.
Dimensions of Social Inequality
Social inequality has several important dimensions. Income is the earnings from work or
investments, while wealth is the total value of money and other assets minus debts. Other important
dimensions include power, occupational prestige, schooling, ancestry, and race and ethnicity.
Social inequalities include access to voting rights, freedom of speech and assembly, the extent of
property rights and access to education, health care, quality housing, traveling, transportation,
vacationing and other social goods and services.
Apart from that it can also be seen in the quality of family and neighborhood life, occupation, job
satisfaction, and access to credit.
If these economic divisions harden, they can lead to social inequality. The reasons for social
inequality can vary but are often broad and far reaching.
● Social inequality can emerge through a society's understanding of appropriate gender roles, or
through the prevalence of social stereotyping.
● Social inequality can also be established through discriminatory legislation.
● Social inequalities exist between ethnic or religious groups, classes and countries making the
concept of social inequality a global phenomenon.
● Social inequality is different from economic inequality, though the two are linked.
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● Social inequality refers to disparities in the distribution of economic assets and income as well
as between the overall quality and luxury of each person's existence within a society, while
economic inequality is caused by the unequal accumulation of wealth.
● Social inequality exists because the lack of wealth in certain areas prohibits these people from
obtaining the same housing, health care, etc. as the wealthy, in societies where access to these
social goods depends on wealth.
● Social inequality is linked to racial inequality, gender inequality, and wealth inequality. The way
people behave socially, through racist or sexist practices and other forms of discrimination,
tends to trickle down and affect the opportunities and wealthy individuals can generate for
themselves.
Effects of Social Inequality
Social inequality affects nearly every dimension of our lives. For example, did you know that
children from poor families are three times more likely to die from disease, accidents, neglect, or
violence during the first year of life than those children born to wealthy families? In addition, on
average, wealthy people live five years longer than those less fortunate.
Something to Reflect on:
1. Do you observe inequality in your own community? Relate your observations or experiences.
2. Discuss what our government should do to lessen if not eradicate inequalities in our society.
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS
HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAM FOR SENIOR CITIZEN
In support of the RA 9257 (The Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2003) and the RA 9994
(Expanded Senior Citizen Act of 2010), the Department of Health issued Administrative Orders for
health implementers to undertake and promote the health and wellness of senior citizens as well as to
alleviate the conditions of older persons who are encountering degenerative diseases.
With the goal of Health and Wellness Program for Senior Citizen of promoting quality of life
among older persons and contribute to the nation building, the HWPSC intends to provide the
following:
● focused service delivery packages and integrated continuum of quality care,
● patient-centered and environment standard to ensure safety and accessibility for senior
citizens,
● equitable health financing,
● capacitated health providers in the implementation of health programs for senior citizens,
● database management, and
● strengthened coordination and collaboration with other stakeholders involved in the
implementation of programs for senior citizens.
GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT PLAN
The Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Plan 2019-2025 covers four years of
the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2017-2022, and the remaining years of the Philippine Plan for
Gender-Responsive Development (PPGD) 1995-2025. The GEWE Plan contains strategic actions
that:
● Implement the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) or Republic Act (RA) 9710;
● Contribute to the inclusive human development goal of the PDP 2017-2022, and the collective
vision of AmBisyon Natin 2040;
● Move the country closer to the achievement of the long-term vision of gender equality and
women’s empowerment as articulated in the PPGD 1995-2025;
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● Facilitate the implementation of the country’s international commitments to gender equality and
women’s empowerment, particularly the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action
(BPfA); the UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCR) on Women, Peace and Security, the
2030 Global Agenda for Sustainable Development or the Sustainable Development Goals
(SDGs), especially Goal 5 on Gender Equality, and relevant Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) declarations and action plans.
PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM
The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is a human development measure of the
national government that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor, to improve the
health, nutrition, and the education of children aged 0-18. It is patterned after the conditional cash
transfer (CCT) schemes in Latin American and African countries, which have lifted millions of people
around the world from poverty.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is the lead government agency
of the 4Ps.
The 4Ps has dual objectives as the flagship poverty alleviation program of the Aquino
administration:
1. social assistance, giving monetary support to extremely poor families to respond to their
immediate needs; and
2. social development, breaking the intergenerational poverty cycle by investing in the health
and education of poor children through programs such as:
o health check-ups for pregnant women and children aged 0 to 5
o deworming of schoolchildren aged 6 to 14
o enrollment of children in daycare, elementary, and secondary schools; and
o family development sessions.
Work on this:
1. Identify a law that promotes equality? Discuss how the law promotes equality.
2. Identify a situation where inequality exists between:
a) Groups of people
b) Two countries
3. Propose ways to address inequalities.
