The Philippines is a country in Southeast Asia consisting of over 7,000 islands. Despite its beauty and scenic tourism spots, the country's economy is one of the most unequal in the world, resulting in widespread poverty. Poverty is a major problem in the Philippines, with around 21.6% of the population living below the poverty line. This has resulted in various issues: hunger, poor health, lack of education, drug addiction, and crime in urban areas.

 

One factor contributing to poverty in the Philippines is the unequal distribution of wealth. The rich are becoming richer, while the poor are becoming poorer. The government's lack of initiatives to reduce the income gap between the rich and the poor has only worsened the situation. The poor are left with limited access to basic necessities such as health care and education, which they cannot afford on their own. This lack of access exacerbates poverty by perpetuating their inability to earn a higher income.

Another reason for poverty in the Philippines is corruption. Corruption is widespread in the country, and corrupt officials often misappropriate funds intended for social welfare programs. This leads to inadequate or incomplete execution of poverty alleviation programs that would otherwise be of great assistance to the poor. The poor are left to fend for themselves, with little to no aid from the government.

The Philippines' limited job opportunities also exacerbates poverty. Many people in the country are unemployed or under-employed. The country's economic development primarily benefits large corporations and the upper class. Without adequate opportunities for people to increase their income, poverty will continue to be a major issue in the Philippines.

Poverty eradication requires the government to remedy the structural root causes of poverty. The Philippine government should prioritize poverty reduction initiatives and allocate greater funding to programs that help the poor. It also needs to reform regulations to improve the business environment to encourage entrepreneurs and investors to create job opportunities for its people. Without these actions, poverty will continue to be a significant problem for the Philippines.

PROBLEM

In 2021, poverty rose to 18.1 percent despite large government assistance. The economy has begun to rebound but

signs are emerging that the recovery will be uneven. Prolonged loss of income has taken a heavy toll on the poorest households.

EFFECTS

Hunger is one of the extreme effects of poverty in the Philippines. With little money to buy food, Filipinos are having to survive on very limited food; even when food supplies are stable, they are most accessible in other areas where people have enough income to purchase the food.

 

The expansion of secondary education and mobility to better-paying jobs, citizen ownership of more assets and access to basic services, and government social assistance have helped reduce inequality since the mid-2000s.

1. ELIMINATING POVERTY THROUGH EQUITY
   One of the main causes of poverty is inequality. The systemic barriers that lead to groups of people going without representation in their communities leaves them further behind in terms of resources and opportunity. In order for a community, or even a country, to alleviate poverty, all groups and identities must be involved in creating solutions.
2. REDUCING POVERTY WITH RESILIENCE
   Poverty happens when a high amount of inequality meets a high amount of risk. 

3. The solution for poverty is to stop corruption. If corruption will be stopped, many Filipinos will rise up from poverty. This is the major problem our country has been suffering for the past decades up to now.

    

   The national government should also help our fellow Filipinos to have a better livelihood, education, health benefits like PhilHealth, and many more.
4. Start with education. Once people are well educated, then they learn to earn money. They learn to get good paying jobs. They learn how to assert their rights. It helps them achieve independence.

BENEFITS

Poverty alleviation is accompanied by a number of positive social impacts. These include improved access to food (that results in higher nutritional and health levels), improved access to education (due to higher income levels and ability to pay for fees and supplies), and improved employment opportunities.

REFERENCES

1.THE EXTREME EFFECTS OF POVERTY IN THE PHILIPPINES

https://borgenproject.org/effects-of-poverty-in-the-philippines/#:~:text=Malnutrition%20in%20the%20Philippines,income%20to%20purchase%20the%20food

2. KEY FINDINGS Overcoming Poverty and Inequality in the Philippines: Past, Present, and Prospects for the Future

https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/philippines/publication/key-findings-overcoming-poverty-and-inequality-in-ph-past-present-and-prospects-for-the-future#:~:text=The%20expansion%20of%20secondary%20education,inequality%20since%20the%20mid%2D2000s