The Poverty Growth in the Philippines and its Root Causes that Hinders the Goal:

Problem Solution Essay on Sustainable Development Goal 1

ESSAY WRITTEN BY GROUP 13 SECTION Y12

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the poverty rate in the country is
about 2.3 million people between the years 2018 and 2021. (Reuters, 2022) The Philippines has
always struggled with poverty, resurfacing in the aftermath of the present financial crisis and
rising food, fuel, and commodity costs. The persistent fall in domestic investments is attributed
to the country's challenges in transitioning to a higher and more consistent level of growth (Bocci
2008), institutional and social infrastructure flaws (Alba 2007), institutional instability (Pritchett
2003), as well as a limiting history and culture (Nelson 2007). It's also conceivable that poverty
itself is limiting economic growth. Ending poverty in all its forms everywhere is not easy here in
the Philippines, especially since not everyone experiences poverty similarly. In the past decades,
poverty in the country has significantly developed. Poverty reduction is slower than in
neighboring countries with a gradual and uneven fall in the percentages of households that reside
far below the official poverty line. If there are no indications of a reduction in the number of
people living in slums, there is a chance that the goal of lowering the percentage of those in
extreme poverty won't be achieved.

The Problem of poverty growth in the Philippines is caused by some of its underlying
causes including unemployment and lack of work opportunities due to the high susceptibility of
poverty-ridden areas to diseases and natural disasters, high level of population growth, and social
injustice. As in most of Asia's developing countries, poverty in the Philippines is a largely rural
phenomenon. Two of every three poor persons in the country are located in rural areas and are
dependent predominantly on agricultural employment and income (Balisacan 2003) According to
an article in The Diplomat (2022), it is said that the Philippines could have the worst poverty
situation in the next few years and will result in a low food minimum price of the goods and
services. These data and the analysis of experts indicate how constraints must be addressed in
order to achieve the goal of eradicating poverty on a regional scale.
 The first problem that hinders solving the NO POVERTY SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT GOAL is unemployment and lack of work opportunities due to the high
susceptibility of poverty-ridden areas towards diseases and natural disasters. According to a
study by Asian Development Bank (2009), the unemployment rates for household heads are 8.4
percent for the poor and 19.42 percent for the non-poor. unemployment goes hand in hand, with
previous studies showing that poverty correlates with underemployment rather than
unemployment. Usually, unemployment leads to a loss of income. In fact, in more than 70
percent of poor households, the head of each household is employed as a farmer, forestry worker,
fisherman, laborer, or unskilled worker. This implies the head of the household struggles with
income and job employment. Poverty is caused by a complicated chain of events that culminates
in an intersectional problem. In addition to that, the Philippines has numerous typhoons in a year,
and on average, they happen about 16 times a year. According to Fothergill and Peek (2004),
individuals with a lower income perceived more risk and were more concerned about natural and
technological disasters. Some research found that the government and Filipinos are unprepared
for disasters such as typhoons and unprecedented pandemics. Natural catastrophes may have
devastating effects on the economy, society, and the environment. Infrastructure damages, such
as damaged roads, telecommunications, and electricity networks, as well as the destruction of
assets such as machinery and cattle, can significantly impede economic activity. The economic
effect varies: Low-income countries usually incur disproportionately larger damages relative to
their assets (Rentschler,2013) Due to the devastating impact of COVID-19 on the poor, the lack
of employment in the nation is also explained by the inability to maintain the rapid economic
growth that needs to be done to recoup the gains lost to the pandemic.

The second problem identified as a major cause of poverty in the country is the high
level of population growth. One or more people are considered when their level of consumption
falls below what is considered to be a decent minimum, either in an absolute sense or by the
standard of a particular society. Population explosion is considered one of the undisputable
alarming obstacles that stand on the path of less developed countries. Due to their greater birth
rates than richer nations, these nations produce a lot of human resources, but poorer nations have
very low rates of employment and productivity. Without a doubt, this is a highly significant issue
that the government should never ignore. According to the United Nations Population Fund
(2017), population trends such as population growth, age structure, and rural-urban distribution,
have a huge impact on the population regarding the prospects for poverty reduction and
sustainable development. Fast-paced population growth and rampant urbanization are two major
population concerns in the Philippines, a country of 80 million people with an average of four
children born to a woman and a sizable 37 percent of the population under the age of 15 (June
2003). Despite the Philippine population growing at a relatively slower rate of 1.4 percent per
year from 2015 to 2020, it remained among the highest in Southeast Asia, surpassing economic
powerhouses the United States and China (Baclig,2021).

The third problem impeding Sustainable Development Goal 1: No Poverty— is a

social injustice that hinders no solving poverty. Sustainable Development Goal is social
injustice. This act of problem strikes at the root of the issue in modern Philippine society: social
injustice, which promotes hunger and poverty in a place rich in human and ecological resources.
In various ways, social injustice manifests itself in people's lives; discrimination based on sexual
orientation, religion, missed career chances, and education results from inequities in people's
lives over which they have no control. As such, social injustice is illustrated in disparities
between the rich and poor in income, healthcare, and education. One notable instance of
inequality is reflected in the lives of local farmers. It commonly occurs when farmers do not own
the land they cultivate. The primary issue with farmers who do not own property is that some of
them cannot afford to acquire land owing to financial constraints. Alternatively, if they do, they
have limited control over the production or sale of their goods. Some governments, like those in
Visayas' Negros Occidental area, would still need to demonstrate the political will to pursue
agricultural reform. The Negros Occidental contains a wealth of natural resources, but because
agrarian reform has not been fully implemented, landowners, agricultural laborers, and the
government are in conflict. The provincial organization of sugar farm workers in Negros
Occidental has a program named "Task Force Mapalad" that promotes for farmers to have
legitimate access to their jobs. Their public awareness campaign for farmers was broadcast on
national television, newspapers, and radio. Many individuals, particularly in government, saw
their campaigns for farmers. In their major campaign for farmers to pursue agricultural reform,
Task Force Mapalad resolves their problems and conflicts with landowners and the government.
The case of Task Force Mapalad demonstrates that understanding the language of power is
essential for resolving land conflicts. It also demonstrates that when agricultural workers move
firmly and utilize their collective power, the state bends, gives in to their demands, and unites
itself against the landlord bloc. They face a cruel reality in the agricultural sector, as they have
long been attached to traditional agriculture, relying heavily on chemicals to develop so-called
high-yielding varieties (HYVs). Hence, this method has only benefited and enriched large
agri-business firms, leaving local agronomists disadvantaged as they labor in vain. It contradicts
the Philippines' identity as an agricultural nation as they experience food instability despite
displaying all kinds of modern equipment.

In solving the first problem concerning unemployment the government must establish a
quality educational system and assist Filipino households who have little means to avail of
quality education. Numerous studies have been conducted to address the issue of the declining
quality of education in the Philippines (Balisacan, 2006). Therefore, establishing quality
education in the Philippines can potentially alleviate the country’s current poverty population and
amplify its growth and impact. It has the potential to boost future development. According to a
study by Asian Development Bank (2009), It is shown that the problem of most impoverished
citizens is having no job insecurity and underemployment. Presently, there are roughly 4 million
jobless people (or about 12 percent of the labor force) as well as another 5 million currently
unemployed workers (or about 17 percent of the employed population) in the Philippines.
Effectively, this could be done by creating a successful educational system that would entail
employment opportunities for workers across multiple fields and industries. Employees who
show promising growth and capability in the workforce may result in promotions. Thus, this will
enable them to incur higher income, having the privilege to uplift their socio-economic status
and relieve themselves of the burden brought about by poverty. One of the compelling ways to
promote sustainable development is to guarantee that every individual obtains a high-quality
education. Without stabilized career opportunities, many people will be left behind from the
collective ideal SDG 1 is endeavoring for, making them susceptible to poverty.

The second solution for poverty involves spreading education and promoting Family
Planning to all Filipinos. Hundreds of millions of people worldwide have an unmet need for
family planning, meaning that they lack the means to choose when, or whether, they have
children. For example, a public awareness and education project is a way to bring a certain issue
to the attention of a group of people. According to the National Demographic Health Survey,
there were 5.1 million unmarried women and 2.6 million married women in the Philippines who
intended to utilize family planning in 2017 but were unable to do so. The percentage of the need
for family planning addressed by contemporary technologies, as measured by Sustainable
Development Goals (SDG) indicator 3.7.1 remained stable between 2015 and 2020 at about 77%
but increased from 55% to 58%. The core of UNFPA’s goal is to end this “unmet need” for
family planning. The National Family Planning Program aims to ensure every Filipino has
universal access to correct information, and medically safe, legal, non-abortifacient, effective,
and culturally acceptable modern family planning (FP) methods. Family Planning (FP) refers to
employing modern, risk-free methods to have the desired number of children at the desired time.
For the woman's health, it is better to have children 3 to 5 years apart. Approaches for family
planning may be simpler and less expensive to administer than certain direct programs. These
factors imply that family planning programs might be helpful in measures to fight poverty.
Solutions such as family planning, and high-quality education for all were included. The
aforementioned projects can reduce overpopulation in the Philippines.

The third proposed solution, all types of social injustice must now be addressed.
Cooperatives are the ones to counteract social injustices and harness the collective strength
of the people to right social wrongs by nature, nurture, and legislation. As a result, the
protest for social justice started. Farmers must own the land they cultivate through agrarian
reform since the property is made profitable by their labor. However, for them to have full access
and control over their new and own properties, they must form a support services organization.

To effectively realize the first solution an efficient system established by government

officials, especially the Department of Education (DepEd), Commission on Higher Education
(CHED), and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), is required. Government agencies
have the most important role in every solution because they enforce laws and help the country by
proposing ideas and actions for the betterment of constituents. In the Philippines, several laws,
ordinances, and policies have been passed such as the labor code of the Philippines. Along with
the government, it is also recommended that the constituents also do their part in having a job
and solving the root of their problems, mainly poverty. Increased unemployment causes social
deprivation. Furthermore, some areas with persistently high unemployment rates may experience
high income inequality, which is exacerbated in developing countries with high growth but
underemployment. For the second solution, a successful system was created by government
officials, particularly the National Program on Population and Family Planning (NPPFP), and the
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA). Family planning and high-quality
education for all are crucial for reducing poverty. Programs will be in line with development
goals, and NEDA will make sure the country's population growth is adequately managed. To
eradicate poverty, prevent environmental degradation, and make almost every other SDG
achievable, fertility rates must be lowered and population growth brought to sustainable levels.
This can be done by spreading education and promoting family planning to all Filipinos. The
economic effect of these policies is enormous and they must be prioritized if politicians are
serious about eradicating poverty and about sustainability, as there is nothing sustainable about
relentless population growth on a planet of finite resources. After evaluating and considering
the solution for the third solution, the evaluation is that it would be very effective if
implemented correctly. However, thus the solution is beneficial to the poor and disadvantaged
marginalized. These solutions will help the farmers protect their rights by having an effective
long-term plan for the government, not a short-term one. Solution by poverty reduction
initiatives will be improved by the efficient local delivery of essential social services and
programs that will protect them against violence and discrimination in addressing the issue of
poverty.
In conclusion, poverty is a national issue rather than a personal problem. Additionally, it
should be addressed instantly by implementing suitable countermeasures. Moreover, the
elimination of poverty is now essential for the inclusive and sustainable development of the
population, society, nation, and economy. However, illiterate persons need to receive the
necessary training to improve their quality of life. A person with only a high school diploma or
few leads two-thirds of impoverished homes. One of the main ways out of poverty is defined as
have access to a decent education. In many nations, poverty is a serious issue that will only get
worse if nothing is done to address it. Poverty affects a large number of people, most of whom
are themselves poor. Rich nations should work together to aid impoverished nations in the fight
against poverty. Millions of people globally die as a result of poverty. Malnutrition affects
children in developing nations because of a shortage of nourishment. The government's lack of
attention to long term-programs. The percentage of the poor who still reside in rural regions has
been consistently high, which has proven a significant obstacle to achieving high levels of
sustainable growth. Even though the population of the Philippines may decline as a result, it is
the duty of the Filipino people and the Philippine government to coordinate and cooperate for the
welfare of the country in the event that any significant change occurs there. We can move closer
to SDG 1 by addressing these problems by ensuring that everyone has access to everybody, as
well as doing our part to save the country because the government is incapable of managing it on
its own.

TASK PEOPLE ASSIGNED STATUS

INTRODUCTION CAMERO, RUTO COMPLETED

PSE 1 AYANNA CAMERO COMPLETED

PSE 2 ERICA MARIE RUTO COMPLETED

PSE 3 KIM YRA ROCHA COMPLETED

CONCLUSION CAMERO, RUTO, ROCHA COMPLETED

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