Slowly but surely

Published by the Visayan Daily Star Publications, Inc.

NINFA R. LEONARDIA Editor-in-Chief & President

CARLA P. GOMEZ Editor CHERYL CRUZ Busines Editor NIDA A. BUENAFE Sports Editor RENE GENOVE Bureau Chief, Dumaguete MAJA P. DELY Advertising Coordinator

CARLOS ANTONIO L. LEONARDIA Administrative Officer

The latest report of the Social Weather Station on hunger incidence indicates the number of Filipino families who went hungry in the first quarter of this year declined by an estimated 800,000 households, a figure that is the lowest level for hunger incidence in 10 years.

The survey, found 13.5 percent of the respondents or about 3 million families saying they experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the last three months, down from 17.2 percent or about 3.8 million families at the end of last year. The same survey also showed that hunger declined in all geographical areas.

The results of the hunger survey follows SWS' self-rated poverty report which found self-rated poverty basically unchanged at 51 percent in March from 52 percent last December while those who considered themselves poor in terms of food declined by five points from 41 percent to 36 percent.

Economists are attributing the fall in hunger incidence to sustained economic growth, pointing to the country's 6.3 percent average growth rate from 2010 to 2014 which is the highest five-year average in the past 40 years.

We can sustain this trend and increase the trickledown effect of a growing economy on the part of the population that needs it the most if the business and investment environment remains stable and attracts more investors, generates more activity and create more jobs and income. This is one issue that Filipinos will have to consider as we weigh the candidates vying for next year's Presidential and general elections.

Despite the calls for the government to do more to end poverty as quickly as it can, reasonable and rational Filipinos know that the quest for genuine and inclusive growth was never meant to be quick and easy. Now that hunger incidence and the number of Filipino families that consider themselves poor in terms of food is falling, it would be best for Filipinos to continue supporting their government that has been tirelessly working towards that goal.

With elections coming within a year it might be a good idea to allow the current administration to finish its programs and prepare for a smooth and stable transition that can allow the succeeding administration to build on whatever gains that have been made and continue the long and thankless journey towards truly inclusive growth for every Filipino in this country.*