On hunger, no time to waste

THE LATEST SWS survey showing an increase in hunger is a major concern that must be taken seriously and not brushed off in a squabble over statistics. According to the March 4-7 poll, 20.5 percent of respondents or an estimated 4.1 million families have gone hungry at least once in the past three months. This is up from the estimated 3.4 million families recorded in November 2010. Along with other examples of poverty and marginalization, such as the shocking deaths of 30 people in Palawan, including children, due to easily preventable ailments such as diarrhea, this demonstrates that the situation is deteriorating.

What is equally of concern to us is President Aquino’s expression of disbelief at the survey results. According to him, the figures are skewed because the impact of the conditional cash transfer (CCT) measures of the government implemented in the Visayas and Mindanao has not been reflected in the survey.

Bickering about statistics when people are going hungry does not do justice to a government that claims to be serious about reducing poverty. The President refers to the CCT program, but CCTs are specific measures used to address some aspects of poverty and are usually short-term and implemented during periods of crises (even on this score, their effectiveness is debatable). CCTs are not development programs and cannot substitute for comprehensive development and poverty reduction strategies. The fact that the President can only point to the CCT measures is an indication that the government has no meaningful development program and strategy to address poverty. This is a major concern.

The President must have a clear strategy for poverty reduction and must have the political will to implement it. At the heart of such a strategy and plan should be far-reaching measures for job creation for the country’s citizens—not CCTs. There is no time to waste. The people are hungry and are getting desperate. A first step to providing the masses with immediate protection against sliding further into poverty would be for the President to mandate a meaningful increase in the minimum wage for all workers.

—SONNY MELENCIO, chair,
Partido Lakas ng Masa,
25 Calderon St.,
Project 4, Quezon City