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In order to tackle and fix the issue, it is important that its meaning is first
understood. Poverty is defined as the “lack of basic capacity to participate effectively in
society.” (United Nations, 1998) It is the lack of resources that deprives a person from
basic necessities, and results in “insecurity, powerlessness, and exclusion,” as well as
“susceptibility to violence and often implies living on marginal or fragile environments,
without access to clean water or sanitation.”
Poor families have an average of 5 children per family, 2 of which are likely to be
stunted due to malnutrition. Out of all the children from poor families, only half will be
able enroll in secondary school, and most will likely have trouble finding jobs in the
future due to poor school instruction.
This is worsened by the fact that the population growth rate decline in the
Philippines has been sluggish. For comparison, take a look at two neighboring countries:
Philippines and Thailand. The Philippines and Thailand had the same population growth
rate in the late 1960s to early 1970s (2.9%). Now, Thailand’s growth rate is a staggering
0.2% compared to the Philippines’ 1.5%.
It is evident, therefore, that millions of Filipinos not only lack the ability to
sustain themselves, but also live in a state of low self-esteem which makes them
susceptible to all kinds of coercion especially by the ones in power. It is also obvious that
the number of people living in poverty will increase. On a brighter note, the World
Bank’s information regarding poverty’s decline gives Filipinos a sliver of hope and a
glimpse of a bright future of change. What then can the country do to encourage the
continuity of such improvement?
Main Ideas
First of all, the national government has actually been very busy. The
government has set goals and is aiming to give a comfortable life for Filipinos as stated
in the AmBisyon Natin 2040 and Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022. These plans’
goals are to turn the country into a middle-class nation.
Aside from the Philippine government, the World Bank has also proposed policy
actions to help the country attain its goals. The organization suggests increasing
competitions in telecommunications, electricity, and transport, as well as having the
government regulate and streamline administrative procedures to encourage more
investors. If the government simplifies regulations, more firms will enter the market and
will lead to higher labor productivity.
Conclusion
With the right mix of investments in human and physical capital and
infrastructure, along with savings, foreign aid, and proper utilization and allocation of
resources, as well as continuous innovation, research and development, the country’s
poverty issue will be resolved in a few years’ time.
However, we must always remember what Jack Ma has said in the APEC Summit
in 2015. “Nobody can help you. We can only help ourselves.” It is, therefore, up to the
Filipinos now, especially those in power, to take the necessary steps for improvement
and take that glimmer of hope and turn it into actions to produce the outcomes that will
change people’s lives. Such change only comes through economic development.
Works Cited
https://psa.gov.ph/content/age-and-sex-structure-philippine-population-facts-2010-
census
https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/speech/2018/05/30/the-philippines-can-
overcome-poverty
http://factsanddetails.com/southeast-asia/Philippines/sub5_6c/entry-3858.html
https://business.inquirer.net/266049/reforms-in-key-sectors-may-boost-ph-economy-
by-p26-8b-yearly
http://2040.neda.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/Vision2040_final.pdf
https://www.rappler.com/business/212945-world-bank-proposed-policy-actions-boost-
economic-growth-philippines
https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/philippines/publication/philippines-economic-
update-investing-in-the-future