Poverty increases

The latest Annual Poverty Indicators Survey (APIS) of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the incidence of poverty rose to 25.8 percent (26 out of 100 Filipinos) in the first half of 2014, up from 24.6 percent in the first semester in 2013, which puts the Philippines as having the highest poverty incidence among the six biggest Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) members (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam).

This again confirms the conclusion that the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps or Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program, which provided an additional support to temper the rise in poverty, has failed to reduce the poverty problem.

According to National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), the Filipinos became poor in the first half of 2014 due to the rapid increase in food prices, particularly rice which jumped 11.9 percent from 1.7 percent on-year as a result of lean harvest and fewer imports — due to government restrictions on rice imports.

The government also blames the effects of the Typhoon Yolanda that devastated the central Philippines wiped out gains in per capita income. Per capita income data in 2014 showed that economic growth has benefitted the lower income groups, including the poor. The very high prices of food wiped out the gains in per capita income.

With food prices tagged as the main driver for growing the poverty incidence,Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan noted the need to revisit the policy covering the grains sector, particularly the quantitative restrictions (QR) policy on rice, to achieve the rice-sufficiency goal.

“Just at the time when the world price of rice was declining, the domestic price of rice was skyrocketing,” Balisacan said.

However, Malacañang gave an assurance that the government will continue to pursue efforts that would help alleviate poverty in the country, such as encouraging investors to put their money in the Philippines and make existing local industries to be competitive.

The problem is due to the Aquino administration’s lack of a job creation program that President Aquino pledged in 2010 — to create 10 million jobs.  That has not been achieved so far after almost five years of the Aquino administration.

Five thousand two hundred persons leave daily to seek jobs abroad.

The Philippines will definitely miss its Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of reducing poverty by half in 2015. We are off by 8 percent from the MDG target.

No peace in Mindanao

The New People’s Army (NPA) mounted a series of attacks in Bukidnon and Davao City.

The NPA rebels attacked a Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit (CAFGU)detachment in Quezon, Bukidnon. They also burned several trucks. No one reported killed or injured in the incident.

Meanwhile, six policemen of 1003rd  Manuever Company of the Regional Public Safety Batallion, who were part of the responding team assigned to the burning incident, were injured in the ambush.

In Davao City, a police car was ambushed by NPA rebels, two policemen and one civilian were hurt in the attack.

In a 15-minute firefight of the Central Mindanao military with the 20-man BIFF team, reportedly led by Basit Usman who escaped for the nth time, four BIFF rebels, including one wearing a Special Action Force (SAF) uniform, were killed. Fourteen BIFF members were killed since Saturday. The military began an all-out offensive against the BIFF last week, amid concern from some human-rights groups that tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced by the fighting.

There was another clash with BIFF in Guindulungan town, involving the 33rd Infantry Battalion and the 6th Scout Ranger Company.

Two teachers, Reynaldo Silano and Russel Bogonoc were kidnapped in Zamboanga, Sibugay by suspected Abu Sayaff Group (ASG) Members.

CSU student kills self

Rosanna Sanfuego, a freshman respiratory therapy student of the Cagayan State University hanged herself at her home in Abulug, Cagayan after she failed to take the mid-term examinations for failure to pay school fees.

“Her death is a slap on the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the institution that caters to the interest of capitalist educators while betraying the youth's right to education,” said Charisse Bañez, national chairman of the League of Filipino Students (LFS).

Sanfruego’s death prompted Pasig Representative Roman Romulo to urge the Senate to pass the “Unified Student Financial Assistance for Students in Higher and Technical Education (UniFAST) Act”.

Romulo, chairman of the House Committee on Higher and Technical Education, is planning to file a resolution seeking an inquiry into Sanfuego’s death.

BOI report delayed

The report of the Philippine National Police Board of Inquiry (PNP-BOI) on the Mamasapano incident was supposed to be submitted yesterday. It was not submitted as General Benjamin Magalong asked for more time to finish the report.

This will further delay the House Ad-hoc Committee hearings as Chairman Representative Rufus Rodriguez had previously announced they will resume hearings only after the BOI report is submitted. Congress will go on a Lenten break by March 20.

Lacson for president

A group of Philippine Military Academy (PMA) graduates belonging to class ‘71-’73 and some Chinese Filipino businessmen launched the candidacy for president of former Senator Panfilo Lacson at a dinner at the Gloria Maris Restaurant in Greenhills.

Lacson told the group he was open to the proposal but asked for time to study his chances.

Previous surveys showed Lacson’s rating at about two percent.

Meanwhile, actor Robin Padilla endorsed Mayor Rodrigo Duterte for president.