Carolinians, vendors rally behind anti-poverty goal

CEBU, Philippines - More than a hundred students and vendors yesterday echoed their call for the government to enforce action in fighting poverty.

Students from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology of the University of San Carlos yesterday joined the members of the Cebu City United Vendors Association in pushing the government for the realization of the Millennium Development Goals, a roadmap to end extreme poverty by 2015.

Judy Aguilar, project director of the Stand Up and Take Action Campaign, led the USC students while Maria Pino led CCUVA.

During the program, the universal prayer for poverty eradication was recited by the attendees.

Engr. Nigel Paul Villarete, city planning and development coordinator, initiated the pledge for the different sectors to work on curbing poverty.

“We read the prayer to end poverty, present signatures gathered in support of the campaign, read the pledge to end poverty and release eight dozens of red and white balloons to signify our commitment to participate in efforts to end poverty,” Aguilar said.

As for Pino, she said that it is about time for the leaders to be aware that they have a goal to achieve since everyday reality speaks that more and more people are getting poorer.

Cebu City Acting Mayor Michael Rama who dropped by the occasion inspired the attendees by saying that everyone can make a difference no matter how small.

In 2000, 189 countries signed the Millennium Declaration agreeing to do everything in their power to end poverty. Yet, according to reports, an estimated 50,000 people die everyday as a result of extreme poverty and that the gap between the rich and the poor is continually increasing.

It was also learned that nearly half of the world’s population lives in poverty, 70 percent are women. — Ferliza C. Contratista/MEEV   (FREEMAN NEWS)