Ma. Bernadette Panaligan
 
Memes like “Ang diet ko ay poverty” have become a trendy punchline on social media, allowing many Filipinos to laugh off their struggles amidst difficult situations. While these jokes provide a momentary escape and entertainment, they mask a sobering truth: poverty is a serious issue that plagued the Philippines for decades. No amount of humor can overshadow the reality that poverty remains one of the most pressing issues affecting our country. 


In July 2024, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) reported that the Philippines had made remarkable strides in reducing poverty levels between 2021 and 2023, making significant progress toward the government’s ambitions. In the same article, they cited the data released under the 2023 Full Year Official Poverty Statistics by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), revealing a substantial decline in poverty incidence from 18.1 percent in 2021 falling to 15.5 percent. Accordingly, this decline represents a reduction of 2.45 million Filipinos living in poverty. Thus, reflecting improvement and exceeding the government’s target for poverty incidence in 2023, projected to be between 16.0 and 16.4 percent. 

While this progress marks a leap in terms of our poverty incidence, millions of Filipino people and families remain at (and below) the poverty line threshold. However, this poverty line concept draws us to these questions: is it really credible? Can it really tell us who are poor? With the poverty incidence being defined as the proportion of families/individuals with per capita income/expenditure less than the per capita poverty threshold to the total number of families/individuals, can the above data possibly stem from ineffective statistical profiling?

To put it in simple words, poverty incidence is the proportion of Filipino families with incomes not sufficient to buy their minimum basic needs, as estimated by the poverty threshold, which is the minimum income requirement for an individual or family to meet their basic food and non-food basic amenities. With this context, the term “poor" refers to individuals and families whose income falls below the poverty threshold set by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) through the PSA. And for 2023, the poverty threshold was set at a national average of P13,873 per month. Those below this threshold are considered poor. 

Now, the issue is this: even a family of three (3) struggle with a P15,000 monthly salary nowadays, and thus, consider themselves poor. And for families with a larger number of members, even a higher income rate would not be enough to suffice their basic needs. With this in mind, a need for more credible profiling is required as a foundation in addressing this alarming issue of poverty.

In a survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS), it was shown that six in every 10 Filipinos rated their families as poor in the third quarter of 2024, the highest in the record of more than 16 years. This self-rated poverty survey conducted last September 14 to 23 found that 59 percent of respondents considered their families poor, which then translated to an estimated 16.3 million poor Filipino families in September 2024, up from 16 million in June and only 12.9 million in March. 

With these contrasting data, challenging the poverty estimation benchmark in the Philippines could be the first step in achieving real progress. But for the record, we are still far away from reaching such a goal. And yet again, knowing how to address this issue with comprehensive plans could make a big leap, maybe slowly, but right on track. 

The issue of poverty in the Philippines is not just a mere statistic. Poverty caused families to starve and children to be deprived of proper education as Filipino people grappled with limited access to basic needs and essential services, making their lives more difficult than they already were. Poverty manifests in daily struggles, and sometimes, it is a never-ending cycle that traps people in a hellhole. 

The adage, “mahirap maging mahirap” encapsulates the harsh realities of inequality in our country. In a nation where a narrow elite lives in the comforts of luxury and privileges, millions others struggle with the weight of daily hardships. This contrast highlights the injustices and unfairness that persist in Philippine society. And so, why are there many poor Filipinos? 

You might have heard your parents tell you repeatedly that education is the key to success. We are often led to believe that the definitive solution to escape poverty is education. We have seen many television series about the resilience and hardships of poor children being determined to finish their studies, and in the end, getting out of the poverty line. This kind of story becomes an inspiration, especially if you have first-hand experiences and observations of your relatives who are now successful after long years of education. And so, some parents remind us to be like them. 

However, the sad reality hits us. How can poor children do so when they don’t have access to educational opportunities? In data released by the PSA, based on the 2020 Census of Population and Housing, nearly 11 million children and young Filipinos are not attending formal school. With various factors resulting to this findings, it is undeniable that poverty and the lack of financial resources are rampantly happening in our country. Sadly, the pathway to learning is then obstructed by financial barriers, and the promise of education becomes a distant dream for many. 

And now, whether someone finished college or not, the employment sector in the Philippines is another challenging aspect of reality. It is easy to say, “Maghanap ka ng trabaho para yumaman ka,” but how can we do so when the job offers in the Philippines require lengthy requirements in exchange of minimum wage? While some other countries require only a few requirements for their job applicants, the Philippines is like a nightmare for jobseekers because of its plenty of documentary needs. It has been a long-practiced norm, something that makes the lives of Filipinos more miserable. 

In addition, on top of that qualification list is the requirement for a Bachelor's Degree, which many people don’t possess for many reasons like poverty by the way. And for this reason, many Filipinos still struggle to look for jobs, and sometimes settle for the ones with minimum wage (or below) because most of them have no other choice but to survive. Or sometimes, they go to foreign countries to try their luck, even to the extent of leaving their families for them to live a comfortable life. 

Because of the population growth in the country, plus the rising inflation rates of basic goods and necessities, some Filipinos still struggle despite having jobs. Stagnant wages make it hard for families to afford basic essentials like food, shelter, and healthcare. IBON Foundation reported that the current national average daily minimum wage is P440, and the minimum family living wage is P1,207. This income range is not sufficient for many people. As living costs continue to rise, along with the increasing inflation, many families are struggling to meet ends.

It is also a saddening truth that social media portrays poverty as a result of having no savings and investment plans. Accordingly, the solution to this issue is savings and investments. But reality check, not everyone has the capacity as those privileged individuals who can save large amounts of money because they have high financial capacity. Some people have barely enough money for their daily and monthly survival. And while these solutions might be true to some, they are not applicable to all. Financial literacy is one way, but the poverty in the Philippines is so extreme that you cannot force others to save up money when all they have is barely enough for their basic needs and survival.

Although the poverty rate in the Philippines has been said to be decreasing, government initiatives are not enough to reduce the vulnerability of families. While we can celebrate progress based on statistical data, we must also recognize that many people still wake up each day without access to basic necessities. 

In line with the recent celebration of the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, we are crucially reminded of the urgent need to address this issue. Addressing poverty requires not only awareness through cold statistical numbers. It needs focused attention from the government, as it does not just affect a single portion of the population, but millions of Filipino people. In order to do so, the need for actual, real, and more accurate data on poverty estimation is highly important. It is the first thing to work, along with other important steps that need to be taken by the government and its stakeholders. 

As a youth advocate myself who is immersed in community projects, I’ve seen first-hand the painful situations of our fellow Filipinos living in a cycle of poverty. A cycle that breeds hopelessness and undermines the potential of an entire generation. I’ve been exposed to the painful truth of children not having access to education, families living in extreme poverty, and people not having the opportunities and access to basic needs. It opened my eyes to reality, resulting in projects and involvements that, even not big enough to address all, still left a big mark in other people’s hearts. 

I hope many more Filipino youths advocate for more comprehensive solutions that uplift the masses. Be it more through policies, fair and equal opportunities, equality in income and jobs, and access to education and basic health care. Providing long-term programs and poverty eradication projects rather than band-aid solutions should also be prioritized.