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MALACAÑANG said on Thursday that reduced hunger levels
in the country, as shown by the results of a Social
Weather Stations survey, proves that the
administration’s hunger mitigation program is working.
Palace
officials said the easing of involuntary hunger levels
in the country—from 21.5 percent in September to 16.2
percent in December—indicates that ordinary people are
finally feeling the benefits of the country’s economic
growth.
“The
survey is a reassurance that the economic gains brought
forth by President Arroyo’s leadership are being
experienced on the ground by ordinary Filipinos,” said
Deputy Presidential Spokesman Anthony Golez in a text
message to reporters.
Presidential Management Staff head Cerge Remonde said in
a statement the results of the SWS survey prove that
“the hunger-mitigation program of President Arroyo is
working.”
He
added: “It should inspire the government to do more. The
President is once again proven right in not allowing
herself to be distracted by politics and focusing
instead on good governance,” Remonde said.
The
survey results showed a significant decline of hunger in
the Visayas, Mindanao and the rest of Luzon, but an
increase in Metro Manila over the last quarter of the
year.
In the
view of National Antipoverty Commission Chairman Domingo
Panganiban, hunger levels might have increased in Metro
Manila owing to the arrival of more people from the
provinces during that period in search of temporary
employment.
In
NAPC’s interaction with families in depressed Metro
Manila communities, Panganiban said there was a
noticeable increase in the number of relatives visiting
from the provinces for the holidays in hopes of getting
short-term employment, especially in the services
sector.
He said
the reduced national hunger level, though still higher
than the average 11.9 percent posted in previous surveys
since 1998, shows that the NAPC’s campaign in priority
provinces, especially in terms of helping the poor
pursue self-employment, is bearing fruit. |
