Philippine Aid Society » government

World Bank: Philippines Economic Outlook is Strong

Tim Troutman — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 01:38:31 +0000

MANILA, July 6, 2011—Prospects for the Philippine economy remain favorable in 2011 as investments, private consumption and the services sector are expected to strengthen. The challenge now is sustaining the momentum of reform for achieving inclusive or broad-based growth that benefits the poor.

Read the whole post here.

Pope Delivers Message on World Hunger

Tim Troutman — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:26:45 +0000

The following video shows a brief address from the Pope regarding world hunger. His words are especially applicable to countries like the Philippines where hunger remains a real threat.

Poverty is not Caused by Population Growth

Tim Troutman — Wed, 11 May 2011 21:48:35 +0000

Bernardo Villegas has written a great article explaining why poverty is not caused by population growth. Some in the Philippines are attempting to move the Philippines down the barbaric path of the Chinese by coercing citizens to limit their offspring. Villegas explains why this approach does not address the actual problems that cause poverty.

Usually emotionally agitated by the sight of families in squatter areas having numerous children, these well-intentioned “social engineers” propose to limit the number per children per fertile woman to two. That’s the typical knee-jerk reaction that has not been subjected to a more thorough analysis.

Villegas also correctly identifies the causes of poverty as (including) misguided economic policies and widespread corruption in the public and private sector. I highly recommend his article entitled, “The Folly of Stopping at Two.”

2.4 Million Children Laboring in the Philippines

Tim Troutman — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 12:51:23 +0000

MANILA, Philippines — Concerned government agencies are working double time to rescue 2.4 million children from hard labor and instead send them to school, Malacañang announced Wednesday.

Read the whole story here.

UN World Food Program Gives High Energy Biscuits

Tim Troutman — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 18:23:50 +0000

LEGAZPI CITY, Albay, Philippines —The United Nations World Food Programme (UN-WFP) on Tuesday sent 55,000 kilos of high energy biscuits worth P5 million to families in Albay who were affected by heavy rains for more than three weeks now.

Stephen Anderson, WFP country director, said this would augment ongoing relief operations in Bicol.

Read the whole story here.

$400 Million ADB Loan to Help the Poor

Tim Troutman — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 13:00:22 +0000

According to Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, the project will provide direct financial support to 582,000 of the country’s poorest families, including those living in remote areas.

She said that unlike traditional welfare programs, only families who keep their children in school and ensure that children and pregnant women get regular health check-ups can receive the cash grants.

Read the whole story here…

Aquino Vows to Rebuild the Philippines

Tim Troutman — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:02:23 +0000

President Aquino vowed to “rebuild the Philippines” in a recent speech at an international auto show. His presidency appears to mark a new era in renewed economic confidence that the Philippines may continue to grow and establish itself as a competitor in the global economic market. The Philippines has a long way to go of course, but such optimism is a necessary first step.

“Our administration is eager to rebuild this nation with you. We are eager to show the world what the Filipino can do,” President Aquino told movers of the local car industry. The President was guest speaker at the 3rd Philippine International Motor Show organized by the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc. (Campi) at the World Trade Center in Pasay City (Metro Manila). Read the rest of the story here…

Philippine Government Rescinds Rice Subsidy to NFA

Tim Troutman — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 12:00:55 +0000

The Philippine government has decided to cancel $178 million dollars in rice subsidies to the National Food Administration (NFA) following the discovery of stock-piles of decaying rice. Rice is, of course, one of the main staples of the Philippine diet. A new plan calls for shifting rice subsidies to other agencies to benefit the poor.

Currently, NFA has been subsidizing rice by selling the commodity at a lower price. When the country’s new government assumed office late June, it discovered the over importation of rice during the previous administration.

Philippine President Benigno Aquino III disclosed in his first State of the Nation address that tons of rice has been rotting in warehouses. Read the rest of the story here.

Government Proposes to Extend Basic Education by Two Years

Tim Troutman — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 12:00:39 +0000

Currently, the Philippine public education consists of ten years. A new proposal is poised to extend that time by two years to help prepare students for successful vocations.

“Essentially, this is basic education and this is for free,” Lacierda said, adding the idea behind the proposal is for high school graduates to have better opportunities for employment even if they decide not to pursue college education.

Part of DepEd’s proposal is the inclusion of vocational courses to afford high school students with “practical livelihood skills.”

According to Lacierda, any cost in the implementation of the program will be shouldered by the government. Read the rest of the story here.

USA to Give Philippines $434 Million in Assistance

Tim Troutman — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 12:00:17 +0000

This is good news for the Philippines:

MANILA, Philippines—The United States is set to enter into a compact with the Philippines granting the Aquino government some $434 million (P20 billion) in aid, the US Embassy said yesterday.

This is the first foreign assistance program granted by the United States during President Aquino’s term.

“This marks a vote of confidence in the Aquino administration and its commitment to confront corruption,” US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. said in a statement. Read the rest of the story…

The Philippine Star also covers the story here.