REVIEW RELATED LITERATURES

Decreasing the poverty is a widely held priority, there is little agreement on a single
definition and method of evaluating poverty. Leisner (2006) believe that it has been
challenging to develop a singular definition of poverty due to multitude of factors.
Poverty impacts several groups, its definition is relative and dependent on the various
interest groups and people who are affected by it. Kotler (2006) even emphasized four
fundamental approaches to the definition and measurement of poverty, poverty is
commonly associated with the concepts of impoverishment, deprivation, the
disadvantaged, inequality, the underprivileged, and the needy.

Compared to other Southeast Asian nations, poverty in the Philippines is more

entrenched. The Republic of the Philippines is a nation in the western Pacific Ocean
that is made up of 7,641 islands. Despite a recent decline in the poverty rate, 21.6% of
the population of the nation still lives below the poverty line. (Grace et al., 2020) The
Philippines' rural areas have a poverty rate of 36% compared to just 13% in
metropolitan areas. However, urban poverty has also steadily increased in recent
years, maybe as a result of migrant workers who are unemployed or have poor
incomes and cannot afford housing. The susceptibility to shocks and natural disasters,
a weak agricultural sector, rapid population expansion, and poor economic growth are
other major causes of poverty. (Nair et al., 2018)

The majority of poor Filipino households have only achieved basic levels of
education. A lack of access to productive capital and limited market access has
created slow economic growth and underemployment. In rural areas in the
Philippines, the average woman will have 3.8 children compared to 2.8 in urban areas.
(Miller et al., 2020) The average annual GDP per person in the Philippines increased
by 0.63 percent per person between 1980 and 2005. Incidents of inequality among
regions have continued to increase, hindering the reduction of poverty. President
Rodrigo Duterte has been focused on improving poverty-related issues for the poor.

The Republic of the Philippines has made progress in reducing poverty and is still
doing so. Still, there is a need for greater development due to overcrowding in
metropolitan areas and a lack of economic prospects for rural residents. There is hope
for the Philippines and its people because political authorities and numerous
organizations are acknowledging these challenges. (Rank, 2004).