GOVERNMENTAND

CHURCH RESPONSE

TO:

POVERTY urbanization HOUSING PROBLEM POPULATION GROWTH globalization HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION

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POVERTY

POVERTY GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

The state’s response to poverty is crucial in terms of how deeply and quickly poverty can be reduced.

The State Response

From pursuing economic growth in the period immediately following the Second World War, the Government of the Philippines shifted its development strategy toward poverty reduction in the 1970s and 1980s. Since then, succeeding administrations have launched flagship poverty programs. Despite these different interventions and approaches, various assessments suggest that the government’s anti-poverty efforts have not made much impact in reducing the number of poor people in the country.

Kapit–Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (KALAHI) is still the current administration’s framework and strategy aimed at reducing poverty, improving governance, and empowering communities. The KALAHI strategies were drawn from the social reform and antipoverty agendas that were articulated in consultations with the basic sectors. Its core strategies include the following:

Accelerated asset reform. Improved access to human development services. Provision of employment and livelihood opportunities.Security from violence and social protection (including safety nets for vulnerable groups).Institutionalized and strengthened participationof the basic sectors in governance.Pro-poor infrastructure development.

Poverty reduction remains a huge policy challenge for the Philippines not only because absolute poverty in the country is high and widespread, but the pace of its reduction is also very slow compared with that of other Asian countries at broadly similar income levels. Slow reduction has to do with the rather low rate of economic growth, especially after accounting for the country’s rapid population growth.

Corruption and Poverty

Since the new president was elected in 2010, reducing poverty in the Philippines has become an official challenge/target of the new government led by Benigno Aquino. But the country seems to be struggling to maintain the healthy growth of 2010 (above 7%), that remains important to keep the country on the right path.

President Benigno Aquino once said in his inaugural speech on June 30, 2012 that “Our foremost duty is to lift the nation from poverty through honest and effective governance.”

New anti-poverty program

With fighting poverty at the center of the new government's policy, the trendy type of social assistance known as conditional cash transfer (CCT) has been the weapon of choice since 2008 in this war against poverty in the Philippines. The CCT program provides cash to poor families as long as they fulfill their civic duties by making sure that they receive basic healthcare (e.g. vaccines) and send their kids to school the whole year. Note that money is given exclusively to the female head of the family. It seems men have a tendency to spend money in alcohol.

Since 2008, the conditional cash transfer program has been extended to over 2 million families, with a budget of about $450m – not that much considering the number of people concerned by this. With the help of the international organizations including the World Bank, almost half of poor families are now receiving CCTs.

Key Findings

1. Economic growth did not translate into poverty reduction in recent years.

2. Poverty levels vary greatly by regions.

3. Poverty levels are strongly linked to educational attainment.

4.Poverty remains a mainly rural phenomenon though urban poverty is on the rise.

6. The poor have large families, with six or more members.

7. There is weak local government capacity for implementing poverty reduction programs.

POVERTY CHURCH RESPONSE

Is Poverty Gods’ Will?What does it mean to respond to poverty in a biblical

manner? Should believers address poverty within their own resources, within the Church body, with or without government resources? Is money the key to solving poverty? These are all questions which are raised in addressing how Christians should respond to poverty.

Church as definitely having a responsibility to care for the poor, physically, but also spiritually.

One might be incredibly lazy and refuse to work, again, directly resulting in poverty. This is directly due to one’s choices. The Bible speaks over and over again about laziness resulting in poverty (Proverbs 10:4, 6:10-11, 14:3, 28:19).

Church needs to be highly involved in addressing the needs of the poor, and not just their material needs, but their spiritual needs as well. In the Bible, Christ commands believers to “defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:9), and those who help the poor are shown to be righteous and good (Acts 9:36, Proverbs 29:7). The Bible also teaches of Christ preaching the Gospel to the poor (Matthew 11:15, Luke 4:18) Jesus Himself is an example of not only providing physically for the poor, but also spiritually. He is our ultimate example and we need to emulate Him. We as Christians, therefore, have a responsibility to minister physically and spiritually to the poor, by virtue of His example and His commands to help the poor.

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URBANIZATION

URBANIZATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

Comparatively, crime rates are higher in poorer neighbourhoods and in areas with higher population density, deteriorated living conditions and many unemployed members of the labour force.

Following the pattern of other countries, rapid urbanization, industrialization and migration to the cities are major factors that contribute to higher crime rates in Philippine urban centre.

Crimes Associated with Urbanization

In the Philippines, there are a number of crimes directly related to urbanization that pose serious concern for the government and civil society, foremost of these are street crimes, illegal drug trafficking, robbery, violent crimes against women and children, and terrorism.

Economically, urbanization has worsened poverty. This is further aggravated by unemployment, underemployment, a decrease in real wages due to persistent inflation and uncontrolled migration.

It has long been a staple of the poverty literature in developing countries that most poor people live in rural areas. Yet, in the Philippines, 55 per cent of the population now live in cities and towns. Some 1.4 million poor households inhabit informal slum settlements.

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HOUSING PROBLEM

HOUSING PROBLEM GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

In the Philippines, less than 1/3 can afford proper shelter. In Metro Manila alone, there is a 3 to 1 ratio of informal settlers; 23% stay in government land, 22% in private properties, 15% in danger zones (which include the streets, bridges, riversides, and along train tracks), and 40% on infrastructure sites. There still exists a huge problem on housing in the Philippines. Various factors affect this such as financing, government policies and interventions, institutional subsidies, and the values and culture the Filipino people illustrate.

Strategic Plan and Focus:

The housing sector is guided by the theme: Gaganda ang buhay kung may bahay at hanap-buhay (Life will improve with housing and livelihood.) The vision is to provide a holistic framework of a home and eventually a harmonious community through provision of housing infrastructure, integration of basic services, and implementation of appropriate housing/construction standards. It targets the provision of some 1.47 million housing units for the Plan period 2011- 2016.

Housing Solutions

1. Create alternative funds and mobilize resources, to spur housingproduction through the revival of the SSS, GSIS and GFIs’ contributionin the housing sector pool; reinstate the entitlements of the housingsector under the Comprehensive and Integrated Shelter Finance Act(RA 7835); involve rural banks, cooperatives and microfinance institutions in implementing a housing micro-finance program, cateringto the marginalized sector and rural homebuyers; and develop aneffective and viable secondary mortgage market and rationalization ofthe guarantee system;2. Build strong partnerships with LGUs to accelerate housing production through land use and local shelter planning, land inventory and creation of Local Housing Boards (LHB); re-channel development funds to LGUs for housing projects for their constituents; and set aside lands for socialized housing in accordance with the Urban Development and Housing Act (RA 7279);

3. Engage NGOs (e.g., Gawad Kalinga, Habitat for Humanity, ABS-CBN Foundation) and the private sector in building and scaling up socialized housing projects;4. Promote the use of “green” technology and materials in housingconstruction and in building “disaster resilient homes”; and5. Develop a strong, cohesive and responsive shelter team (e.g., keyshelter agencies and stakeholders) to bring significant changes andinstitutional reforms, including simplifying loan application processing for development and homebuyer’s loans, and reducing red tape in the issuance of land titles and housing and development permits, at the national and local levels; and ensure transparency and good governance in the housing sector.

Legislative Agenda

Creation of the Department of Housing and Urban Development(DHUD)

Balanced Housing Requirement for Condominium Projects

Establishment of Local Housing Boards

National Land Use Act (NALUA)

Comprehensive and Integrated Shelter Finance Act (CISFA) II

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POPULATION GROWTH

POPULATION GROWTH GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

The demographic and economic history of the Philippines is characterized by continued rapid population growth and an uneveneconomic performance.

Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning Program

In 2006 the President ordered the Department of Health, POPCOM and local governments to direct and implement the Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning Program.

The Responsible Parenthood and Natural Family Planning Program's primary policy objective is to promote natural family planning, birth spacing (three years birth spacing) and breastfeeding which are good for the health of the mother, child, family, and community. While LGUs can promote artificial family planning because of local autonomy, the national government advocates natural family planning.

Over 80% of Filipinos are Catholic, so it is not surprising to encounter assertions that population management infrastructure and operations "largely reflect the Catholic Church's position on family planning which emphasizes responsible parenting, informed choice, respect for life and birth spacing."The Catholic bishops of the country have been accused of opposing and hampering population management and fertility reduction policies.

CHURCH RESPONSE

In the Encyclical Letter of His Holiness, Humanae Vitae, Pope Paul VI stresses that the marital relationship is the one institution where decisions about responsible parenthood are to be made. By definition, responsible parenthood is based on conjugal love, in which "children are the most precious gift of marriage and contribute immensely to the good of the parents themselves." For that reason, "responsible parenthood is exercised either by the thoughtfully made and generous decision to raise a large family, or by the decision, made for grave motives and with respect for the moral law, the avoid a new birth for the time being, or even an indeterminate period."

In conclusion, the fate of the Philippine population remains in the hands of its leaders who will decide what measures are taken to ensure growth for the country as a whole.

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GLOBALIZATION

GLOBALIZATION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

CHURCH RESPONSE

Globalization also fosters cultural fragmentation and purification, the abstraction of culture and social space from geographical space, and a reduction of culture to identity.

These additional challenges are evaluated from the perspective of the mark of catholicity, which is proposed as a theological resource for an ecclesial response to the challenges of globalization.

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HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION

HUNGER AND MALNUTRITION GOVERNMENT RESPONSE

The State further declares its determination to eliminate hunger and to reduce all forms of malnutrition; That, hunger and malnutrition are unacceptable to end this human catastrophe.

The State maintains that nutrition is both an end-goal and a means to achieve development. It is a multi-factorial concern requiring inputs from all sectors. As such, nutrition shall be a priority of the government to be implemented by all its branches in collaboration with non-government organizations and the private sector in an integrated manner with focus to nutritionally and economically depressed areas, communities and households.

Senate Bill No.· 1326

Introduced by Senator Manny Villar

“AN ACT STRENGTHENING THE NATIONAL NUTRITION PROGRAM, APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES”

Objectives.--The Nutrition Act of aims to improve the nutritionalstatus of the country and its citizenry. Specifically, it aims to:

(a) Strengthen the National Nutrition Council (NNC) as the policy-makingbody on nutrition:

(b) Provide a policy environment conducive to nutrition improvement;

(c) Provide mechanisms, strategies and approaches in implementing programs and projects to improve nutritional status and to eradicate malnutrition and hunger;

(d) Insure participation and cooperation of NNC-member agencies, other National Government Agencies (NGAs), Local Government Units (LGUs), NonGovernment Organizations (NGOs), and the private sector in an integrated manner for the promotion of the nutritional well-being of the population.

Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN) and Strategies:

The PPAN aims to reduce prevalence of protein-energy malnutrition, Vitamin A deficiency, iron deficiency anemia and iodine deficiency disorders.

The PPAN shall employ a twin strategy: promotion of household food security; and the prevention, control and elimination of micro-nutrient malnutrition.The PPAN shall employ a twin strategy: promotion of household food security; and the prevention, control and elimination of micro-nutrient malnutrition.

The National Nutrition Council.--The National Nutrition Council (NNC), composed of a Governing Board and a Secretariat, is the highest policymaking body on nutrition. It coordinates the formulation and the implementation of the Philippine Plan of Action for Nutrition (PPAN). It shall provide overall direction for the nutrition plans and programs and coordinate all others agencies which contribute resources and expertise for nutrition development.

Bread for the World (BFW), established in 1974, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan Christian citizens’ movement which performs a unique and critical role within the faith community by working to eradicate hunger from the face of the earth by using their network of thousands of local Covenant Churches across America to lobby elected officials to change policies to provide opportunities to establish a sustainable livelihood for all people. BFW’s main campaign is an annual nationwide “Offering of Letters,” which not only provides church members with the opportunity to write members of Congress concerning hunger-related issues, but also enables congregations to incorporate into their worship experience, their passionate concerns for those that are starving and suffering from malnutrition.

CHURCH RESPONSE