Aquino wants 4.6 million Pinoys out of poverty by 2015

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – President Aquino wants the more than 4.6 million poor Filipinos to be relieved from poverty and have better lives by 2015.

The President said the plan is achievable through the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Mr. Aquino said that at present there are 1.6 million people being served by the Kalahi-CIDSS program and he expects the beneficiaries to increase to 2.3 million next year and by 2015, the target 4.6 million poor citizens would be covered by the program.

The President met with more than 3,000 lumad beneficiaries of the Kalahi-CIDSS program in Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte when he arrived here last Thursday.

Mr. Aquino also defended his proposal to increase the DSWD budget next year, which critics claimed would only encourage mendicancy.

“Some are accusing me of raising a culture of mendicancy. But if you see a person drowning, and you’re trying to save him, is that wrong?” he said.

He explained that the increase in the DSWD budget is intended to cut the number of poor families by half next year.

He also sought the help of the business sector in the effort to help more poor families.

Mr. Aquino said the Kalahi-CIDSS program intends to alleviate Filipinos from poverty.

“We are here to be of service. We are your servants. Tell us how we are able to serve,” the President also told the participants in the regional economic managers forum held Thursday afternoon at the Marco Polo Hotel.

Mr. Aquino said he also intends to address the problem on poverty by creating more jobs.

“We need more investments so there could be more jobs available for Filipinos,” the President said. –Edith Regalado (The Philippine Star)