Palace: Targeted approach vs poverty, hunger works

MANILA – Malacanang believes the government’s targeted approach to reduce poverty and hunger in the country is working.

This, after a recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed a decline in the number of families experiencing involuntary hunger.

“‘Yung paglutas sa problema ng kahirapan at ang kaakibat nito, ‘yung problema ng pagkagutom, ay isa sa pinakamahalaga at mataas na prayoridad na programa ng ating pamahalaan. Kaya nga’t sa ating pambansang budget, ang pinakamalaking bahagdan nito ay nakalaan sa social protection and poverty reduction,” Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma said.

The SWS survey, conducted last March 20 to 23, showed that 13.5 percent or an estimated 3 million families experienced hunger at least once in the past three months.

The figure is 3.7-percentage points lower than the 17.2-percent figure in December last year.

This is the lowest figure on involuntary hunger incidence in the Philippines since May 2005, according to SWS.

Coloma said the decline in the hunger incidence shows that the government’s poverty reduction programs are working.

The government currently gives conditional cash grants to indigent families who have kids ages 14 years old and below. A P500 monthly cash grant is given for health and nutrition expenses while P300 monthly cash grant is given per child for educational expenses.

“Siguro ‘yung mga recent findings na ‘yan ng SWS ay sumasalamin sa realidad na maaaring natatamo na ‘yung layunin ng pamahalaan na mabawasan ‘yung kagutuman sa hanay ng mga mahihirap, kasabay rin ‘nung pagkakaroon ng progreso doon sa paglaban sa kahirapan,” he said.

“Batid naman natin ang kasalukuyang administrasyon ay nagbago ng approach doon sa poverty reduction na sa halip na trickledown effect ay tinutukoy mismo ‘yung mga pamilyang nasa hanay ng maralita at binibigyan sila ng conditional cash transfer. So patuloy na paiigtingin ang mga programa na nakatuon sa pagbabawas sa kahirapan at sa pagkagutom,” he added. –Willard Cheng, ABS-CBN News