More funding for anti-poverty in the Philippines

A government money package in the Philippines is expected to add 1.5 million new jobs to the country. The government added another 30 million to the already 300 million dollar fund package, similar to the economic stimulus packages here in the states.

Joel Guinto a writer for the Inquirer details the governments doings.

For the first half of 2009, the government is expected to generate as much as 1.5 million new jobs, mostly street sweepers and construction workers. With "best effort," three million new jobs could be created by the end of the year, National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) lead convenor Domingo Panganiban told reporters.

The government would need to spend P1.0 billion for every one million new jobs. This meant P3.0 billion would be spent if three million jobs were created this year under the Comprehensive Livelihood and Emergency Employment Program, Panganiban said.

"It will be a big dent to the reduction of poverty," he said.

The additional P30 billion was pooled from savings of government agencies and contributions from government-owned or-controlled corporations, he said.