Government hopeful on poverty reduction

Through massive investment in human development and poverty reduction, the government is still hopeful that the results of the next poverty statistics will improve, particularly on the proportion of poor Filipinos, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) said in a press briefing on Tuesday.

The National Statistical Coordination Board reported that poverty incidence for the first semester of 2012 stood at 27.9 percent, or almost the same rate in 2006 and 2009.

“Although this first semester result on poverty incidence is not the dramatic result we wanted, we remain hopeful that, with the timely measures we are now implementing, the next rounds of poverty statistics will give much better results,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.

He admitted that the government somehow anticipated the poverty incidence results, because agriculture sector growth had been slow-moving with a contraction in the fishery sector in second quarter of 2012.

He added that another reason for the unchanged poverty incidence in the country is the disasters and natural calamities that the Philippines experienced in 2012.

Moreover, the Cabinet official stated that peace and security problems were the main reason in the increased poverty incidence in Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, North Cotabato and Cotabato City.

“The past incidences of armed conflict instilled fear and retained the perception of uncertainty that reduced economic activity in the area. This is the reason why we have not faltered in our pursuit for lasting peace in the region,” he said.

Balisacan also explained that the problem of poverty requires a comprehensive, multi-pronged, multi-sectoral solution involving many stakeholders.

“We are making use of the current effort to update the Philippine Development Plan to effect this solution. This was a directive from the President [Benigno Aquino 3rd] himself, and it requires the participation of all government agencies, all levels of government, private sector, civil society and others,” he stated.

For this reason, the NEDA chief emphasized that the updated PDP will explicitly consider the regional dimension in crafting the strategies for development.

Lastly, Balisacan maintained that with the various programs and projects and with the help of everyone, most especially those in government and business, the government remain hopeful that the next round of results on poverty incidence would show substantial improvement. –MAYVELIN U. CARABALLO REPORTER, Manila Times