University of Saint La Salle

Bacolod City

TOLENTINO, Jim Austin M.

AB1 - B

General Sociology Research

Programs and projects of the government in alleviating poverty in the Philippines

NEDA's Search for the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) Youth Champions

According to NEDA, the follwing factors contribute to the decline in poverty incidence for the period of 2000-2006: The sustained growth of real gross domestic production (GDP), driven by private sector participation. There also are national policies spelled out in the mid-term Philippine development plan (MTPDP) 2001-2004 and 2004-2010, which have prioritized anti-poverty strategies. The two plans espouse poverty reduction as an overarching goal, while sectoral thrusts fully support poverty-reduction targets and priorities,” NEDA further stated.

The national government is fully committed to pursue an integrated and comprehensive national anti-poverty strategy called the “Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan” (Linking Arms Against Poverty) which focuses on asset reform, human development services, employment and livelihood, social protection and participatory governance.

Aside from the above mentioned programs, the government has been implementing major foreign-assisted programs and projects designed to fast-track poverty-reduction efforts which include:

a) KALAHI-CIDSS or Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)/World Bank (WB)

b) Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM)/WB/Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC); c) Development of Poor Urban Communities Sector Project (Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC)/Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP)/Asian Development Bank (ADB) and

d) Achieving the MDGs and Reducing Human Poverty (NEDA/United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

The Philippines pledged the poverty and hunger eradication; universal primary education achievement; gender equality promotion and women empowerment; child mortality reduction; maternal health improvement; combat against HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases; environmentally sustainability assurance and a global partnership development. (Barriga, 2009)

Probable solutions and programs of the NGOs in minimizing poverty in the Philippines

Microfinancing is the process of provision of financial services to poor or low-income clients, including consumers and the self-employed. The term also refers to the practice of sustainably delivering those services. The non-governmental units that engage in this movement include:

a) Bangko Kabayan (a rural bank) offers loans like:

KAPITAN group lending program (Kapisanan ng mga Ilaw ng Tahanan), which finances micro-enterprise businesses that generate daily income to augment additional household support and for businesses with long gestating period like livestock raising, provided, the secondary income can pay the weekly amortization payment;

KABAYAN individual lending program (Kaakibat ng Bangko sa Pag-unlad sa Kabuhayan), which finances loans for working capital or acquisition of fixed assets for existing business;

KABAYAN Educational Loan (Kaakibat ng Bangko sa Pag-unlad sa Kabuhayan)Microfinance Individual Lending Program which offers an incentive credit window for existing class "A" microfinance clients to finance: Tuition and/or entrance fees, Graduation fees, Board review, Books, school and uniforms and Educational plan - premium; and

KABAYAN PLUS Program which offers transitory special financing schemes providing credit assistance for loans above P150,000 up to a maximum of P300,000. (Bangko Kabayan Official Website)

b) Ateneo de Manila's Educational Microfinance Capacity Building Services:

Regular Microfinance Training Courses - Microfinance training courses will be offered by the Development Studies program. Such courses respond to market needs. Adult learning techniques and structured learning experiences that enhance the knowledge and skills of participants are employed.

Off-Site Microfinance Training - Microfinance institutions (MFIs) usually need training interventions specifically tailored to the peculiarities of their operations in the short term. Off-site training courses target MFIs that have a human resource base adequate enough to run a training course (at least 15 management staff). Cost is also reduced on the part of the MFI without sacrificing income streams from the activity.

Microfinance Management Development Program - The microfinance management development program caters to microfinance institutions that need capacity building interventions in the long term. A combination of various capacity building interventions will be offered that depend on the specific needs of the MFI. These may be in the form of training, mentoring, technical assistance, facilitation and experts’ advice, on the job training, strategic planning and other consulting services.

Microfinance Knowledge Resource Hub - Most microfinance institutions have the necessary human resource base but lack the right policies, systems and procedures. Information that could be used to enhance policies, systems and procedures should be disseminated. This offers access to secondary sources of information such as books, microfinance journals, case studies and the like. Also included are multimedia resources such as CD-ROM databases, audio and visual materials. The website will offer publications that could be downloaded, trends and news/updates in the microfinance industry. (Ateneo de Manila official website: www.admu.edu.ph/index.php?p=1052)