Hunger survey reflects RP reality, says senator


By Veronica Uy
INQ7.net
Last updated 06:19pm (Mla time) 11/03/2006


THE Social Weather Station (SWS) survey showing that 2.9 million Filipino families went hungry at least once over the past three months reflects the reality of Philippine economy, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel Jr. said Friday.

He said this means that these Filipinos, constituting 16.9 percent of the country’s 17.4 million households, do not benefit from the economic progress “being flaunted” by the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“Arroyo’s prediction of higher economic growth rings hollow in the face of stark poverty facing the people,” Pimentel said in a statement. “All talk about high economic development is nothing but empty rhetoric.”

“The man on the street does not have anything to feed his family, get them medical assistance when needed, build a roof over their heads and send the children to school,” he added.

The Third Quarter 2006 survey said that the results of the survey on hunger among households “indicated that, while some families managed to cross their borderline of poverty, other families began to suffer the deep deprivation of hunger.”

Pimentel said corrupt and unstable leadership and ill-defined economic policies are the reasons for the widespread poverty that the SWS survey suggests

Will somebody please silence that communist symphatizer, permanently. I'm sick and tired of the leftist politicians back home. They are dragging the country down with their communist/socialist leaning.

As for the people in hunger, I'm sorry to say, but they are the ones responsible for their predicament. That's how it is in a market-driven economy, you're responsible for supporting yourself and family, not the government. Don't expect any handouts, work your way up.

Totoo naman na maraing nagugutom sa Pilipinas , But kung mga kumunista ang magpapatakbo ng ating gobyerno???? Hay mas malala!!!!

Our country needs unity. But instead of focusing on moving the country forward, we're stuck at bickering at each other about petty things or minor stuff, and miss the big picture. I'm not a fan of Arroyo, but I hope she succeeds in uniting all the people in the Philippines and eradicate all the internal entities who intends to do otherwise.

Hunger is not only a Philippine problem but Worldwide!