EDITORIAL - Beating poverty

Encouraged by the strong economic gains under the Aquino administration, the government said it is aiming to cut the country's poverty by half three years from now. According to the data, almost 28 percent of the population lives below the poverty line and the government is working doubly hard to reduce it by 16 percent when President Aquino bows out of office by 2016.      

Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balicasan said the government is doubling its efforts to lift more Filipinos out of poverty. To realize this goal, there's a need to maintain the economic growth the country is experiencing for the past years. For this year, Balicasan said the government is sticking to its projected six to seven percent growth.       

The Philippines has been dubbed as a rising economic tiger. Years of sustainable growth have enabled it to catch up with its more prosperous neighbors. In fact, its 7.8 percent growth in the first quarter of this year was the biggest in Asia, overtaking perennial leader China.       

Despite a stellar performance of the economy, the government still failed to solve the problem on poverty. Millions are still living way below the minimum wage. Besides, there's a serious lack of employment opportunities, forcing many to seek greener pasture in foreign lands.      

Last Saturday, the New York Times International Weekly reported that the Philippines' newfound prosperity has been skipping the poor. It said “rural poverty is particilarly acute” despite having the fastest-growing economy in East Asia, adding that “government aid does little to lift families out of poverty.”

This is not to say the government has been remiss in its obligation to help the poor. The fact that the economy has been growing at an unprecedented rate can only attest to its serious campaign to bring true development to the people.

But it seems all its efforts are not enough because only a few have been benefitting from the strong economy. The government should find immediate solution to this problem, otherwise growth will never reach the majority.