Make a Donation

Nearly 88% of Filipino Families Live in Poverty:

IBON study reveals government's poverty figures "woefully understated" 

For immediate release: March 27, 2002

A recent study conducted by IBON Foundation, Inc., an independent research think tank reveals an overwhelming majority ­ 87.5 % of Filipino families do not earn enough to maintain a decent standard of living.

The study compared IBON estimates of the daily cost of living to government data from the Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO).

"Despite government's and the World Bank's declaration that the economy is improving under Arroyo, our data reveal otherwise," says Antonio Tujan, Jr., IBON's Research Director.  "How can they claim that the economy is improving when an estimated 13.4 million families are living below the poverty line?" he asked.

The study also criticizes government estimates that 34.2 percent of Filipino families live in poverty as "woefully understated." IBON believes that these estimates are based on a "ridiculously" low annual per capita poverty threshold of P13,916. According to this figure, the government believes that a Filipino only needs P38.13 a day to meet all his basic needs.

"Even the poorest of the poor will tell you that P38.13 is not nearly enough to meet one's daily needs," stressed Tujan. Tujan questioned the Arroyo administration's sincerity in `winning the fight against poverty within the decade' though its Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP) 2001-2004.

"The MTPDP is essentially a blueprint for neo-liberal globalization," said Tujan, adding that,  "Neo-liberal policies such as liberalization, deregulation and privatization will not eliminate poverty, but only aggravate it."

Tujan pointed to Arroyo's refusal to increase the minimum wage and her over-bloating of the military and defense budget with the latest Balikatan 02-1 exercises, as "exposing the government's true anti-poor character."

"Arroyo is obviously more interested in catering to foreign and big business interests than hearing the cries of the poor," he concluded.  

Back to top ^

• Archives 2002
• << Go Back