Report - Social Watch Philippines

On poverty, hunger and employment:
Off-track but not without hope
� By MARIVIC RAQUIZA
Summary
T
he pace of poverty reduction in the Philippines did not only decelerate
but has actually been reversed, and poverty incidence is expected
to register a further increase in the next round of offi cial estimates.
Self-rated hunger, which is a reliable indicator, is at record levels. Furthermore,
a signifi cant section of our people, many women and young people, are resorting
to part-time and low productive work in order to augment family incomes, especially in the context of
the multiple crises that have recently hit the country. Most anti-poverty programs of the government
only provide short-term relief, or, at best, poverty reduction but at localized levels. The government’s
over-all offi cial development strategy must be examined to understand why poverty, and inequality,
remain stubborn problems. Indeed, on certain issues like debt, trade and aid, and foreshadowing the
MDG 8 chapter, it is likely that many policy positions taken have meant even increased impoverishment
for our people.
Winning the Numbers, Losing the War: The Other MDG Report 2010 29