Philippine Leader Calls For Shift In Spending Pattern To End Poverty

from All Headline News

Komfie Manalo - All Headline News Correspondent

Manila, Philippines (AHN) - Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on Tuesday called for a shift in the government's "spending pattern" to end the cycle of poverty in the Philippines. Arroyo made the statement as the latest survey made by the Social Weather Station showed that one in five Filipino families experience involuntary hunger at least once in the last three months.

Arroyo also advised the public to prioritize their spending on basic items before splurging on luxuries to ensure food on the table.

She also want a detailed report on areas where hunger is prevalent.

In a statement, Arroyo said, "We always take these reports with a sense of urgency and we want to pinpoint the specific areas and communities where hunger may be rife so that effective intervention can be mounted."|

The president adds hunger "cannot be totally attributed to poverty and lack of opportunity but also to the spending patterns of the people."

"I ask our people to spend on the basics first before the luxuries so our children will have enough to eat. All aspects must be dealt with so the whole citizenry can be healthy and productive," she said.

She vowed that the fight against poverty will be a constant priority in strategic and immediate levels. "I shall continue to see to it that nobody is left behind in the social payback of economic growth."

Arroyo said that "on the strategic level," the government was enhancing agricultural programs to boost food production, broadening and speeding up the food distribution system, and balancing out price disparities and fluctuations.

She said her government deployed rolling stores which sells basic goods at a lower price to poor communities, and tasked concerned government agencies to strictly monitor food prices to prevent profiteering as well as the immediate repair of farm-to-market roads to ensure the quick delivery of food.