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Bacolod City, PhilippinesMonday, May 7, 2012
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Editorial

Anti-poverty programs

Daily Star logo
Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.
NINFA R. LEONARDIA
Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ
Editor

CHERYL CRUZ
Desk Editor
PATRICK PANGILINAN
Busines Editor

NIDA A. BUENAFE

Sports Editor
RENE GENOVE
Bureau Chief, Dumaguete
MAJA P. DELY
Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA
Administrative Officer

A new survey released by the Social Weather Stations showed that an estimated 11.1 million Filipino households consider themselves poor inspite of massive antipoverty programs adopted and funded by our government to eradicate poverty.

The results of the survey on those who said they were poor in terms of food accounted for 45 percent or approximately 9.1 million families, shows a rise of nine points from the 36 percent or 7.2 million families recorded in the previous quarter.

The self-rated poverty subjects climbed sharply in Mindanao up to 72 percent in the last quarter from 38 percent in December, while in the Visayas it also rose to 61 percent from 52 percent previously. In Luzon and Metro Manila, it remained almost the same, from 46 percent to 47 percent.

Secretary Corazon Soliman of the Department of Social Welfare and Development said poverty is a multi-dimensional problem that needs collaborative efforts of all sectors to address it. Even with the entry of Pantawid Pamilya, the DSWD admits that the program is not the only solution for eradicating poverty in our country.

It is true that any anti-poverty program will take some time before its effects are felt on a sustained basis. The government’s efforts to improve services and push for inclusive growth is also starting to be tangibly felt only lately.

At the same time it has to be admitted that the solution to this problem should not be left to the government alone. Support from civil society organizations and from all of us will bring it faster and more effectively.*

Email: visayandailystar@yahoo.com