Local leaders should solve the hunger problem

It is heartening to learn the recent news that Standard and Poor’s, a global credit rating agency, notes that the Philippines faced the global economic slowdown “from a considerably improved position” better than it did three or four years ago compared to its Asian neighbors. Agost Bernard, S & P’s Associate Director, praised the government for having implemented economic reforms when the times were good, thus cushioning the impact of the ongoing worldwide financial crisis. This international recognition somehow disproves the critics’ claim that the government’s sound economic reports are but lies. 

At the same time, it bothers me that the Philippines is listed as one of the 33 countries with a serious hunger problem along with troubled economies such as Myanmar, Timor Leste, and others located in Africa. Latest data from the National Statistical Coordination Board brings the alarming news that more than 11 million Filipinos, or about 12 percent of the population are food-poor and live below the subsistence level. Hunger is prevalent in the southern part of the country. Furthermore, 18 percent of our population is considered undernourished. But these are statistics in 2003 that do not even take into account the recent skyrocketing prices of oil and food supplies and the series of typhoons that destroyed crops and properties during the last three months. In fact, a survey report just released by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) shows that some 3.3 million families experienced not having anything to eat in the last three months.

It is hard to reconcile the fact that Filipinos are going hungry despite the fact that we are a country rich with natural resources and with so much land to till and cultivate. We have one of the most abundant and diverse marine resources in the world. Our country is known for its world-class fruits and other exports. How can economic growth and poverty co-exist at such disparity, I wonder.

I have read about several hunger mitigation programs by the government but I wonder how these benefit the poorest families in our country. The government agencies and local leaders who are in custody of available funds and resources must be able to support those families with insufficient wages to meet the rising cost of food and with no means or opportunity at all to rise from poverty. They should be able to easily identify the disadvantaged and impoverished in their respective communities. No amount of food subsidies and aid from individuals and both government and non-government agencies can reduce hunger and poverty without conscientious and honest people taking the lead. How well these leaders are able to allocate the available funds and resources for their constituency is a test of custodianship. The next higher local leader should monitor the performance of those in the grassroots level. How well these people in command collectively uplift the quality of life of their community members is a test of the integrity of their governance.

If only every individual will espouse the happiness of the most common man in the country and look after each other, any problem cannot be a cause for alarm. Let’s all do our share to solve this severe hunger problem. Magkakapamilya tayo!

(Erratum: In last Saturday’s column (Oct. 18), in the last sentence “But we can always emulate the people of Bacolod who, even through life’s adversities, have dreaded a city of smiling faces”, instead of the word dreaded it should have been CREATED.” Our apologies.)