Food and Drug Industry

[3cr]

RP to receive $ 75-M ADB loan this month
By MARVYN N. BENANING
http://www.mb.com.ph/MTNN20071104107677.html


The Philippine government will get the second tranche of the $ 150-million microfinance development loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) this month, barely two weeks after the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) and other agencies launched a campaign to educate the country’s four million poor households about microfinance.

According to NAPC Secretary Domingo Panganiban, the ADB loan is designed to reduce poverty among Filipinos by widening the access of the poor to customer-friendly credit.

The NAPC recently launched the Philippine Microfinance Literacy Campaign (PMLC) as a key component of the Philippine Microfinance Development Program (MDP), a government effort targeting poor families nationwide to engage in small businesses and agricultural endeavors to improve their incomes and wean them away from the pangs of hunger and misery.

The first tranche of the loan, around $ 75 million, was disbursed in November 2005.

The loan agreement between the government and the ADB stipulates a package of policy reforms that include better consumer protection for microfinance borrowers and increased financial literacy among the country’s poor communities.

NAPC Assistant Secretary Dolores de Quiros Castillo said there is a need to help more poor Filipinos understand their financial options and recognize how to effectively use microfinance services to their advantage.

Instead of microfinance products helping the poor out of poverty, the lack of knowledge on financial options could make the poor more susceptible to debt trap and low savings, Castillo said.

Financial literacy can enlighten the poor on the products and policies of microfinance institutions, how to calculate and compare costs, how to determine their cash flow, select what they can afford, and prioritize what they really need, Castillo added.

Also present at the launching held at the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) in Manila were BSP Deputy Gov. Nestor Espenilla, Undersecretary Gil Beltran of the Department of Finance, Eiichi Sasaki of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Edmon Sison of Uplift Philippines, and Antonina C. Ti of the Patamba Network of Informal Workers.

More than three million poor Filipinos have secured loans amounting to around R74 billion through the government’s partner microfinance institutions over the past three years.

Around 31 percent of the country’s active microfinance clients are small farmers, 24 percent are poor fisherfolk, another 28 percent are informal workers, while 15 percent belong to the urban poor.

The Filipino youth and indigenous folk comprise the remainder.

[Maxxclip]

Originally Posted by gen1

Bisaya ka dong ? Favorite kong breakfast yan sa bisaya, ampalaya omelette. It never tastes as good in manila as it does in the visayas.

Di bay

[3cr]

SWS: 9M families feel poor
7.5M families see themselves as poor in food
By Kate V. Pedroso
Inquirer
http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakin...ticle_id=98998


MANILA, Philippines--About nine million families (52 percent) consider themselves poor, while about 7.5 million families (43 percent) consider themselves poor in terms of food, according to a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations.

Household heads' ratings of general poverty, food poverty and experience of hunger were "internally consistent," SWS noted.

Nationwide, the proportion of households who experienced hunger during the past three months was at 31 percent among those who rated themselves "food poor" and 28 percent among the self-rated poor, while it was only 14 percent among the Not-Poor, the Not Food-Poor, and those on the borderline.

The Third Quarter 2007 Social Weather Survey found that self-rated poverty has been at the "relatively low range" of 47 to 53 percent since September 2006. It ranged between 55 and 59 percent from December 2005 to June 2006.

"Since 1986, the SWS Self-Rated Poverty surveys have been asking household heads to point to where their families are on a card with the words "Mahirap" or "Poor" on one side, "Di Mahirap" or "Not Poor" on the opposite side, and a line in between," SWS said in a statement released Monday.

Both self-rated poverty and self-rated food poverty were highest in Mindanao, followed by the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Metro Manila. Self-rated poverty was higher in rural areas than in urban areas.

Self-rated poverty fell in the Visayas from 52 percent in June to 47 percent in September, the second lowest level since the series began. However, it rose 19 percentage points in Mindanao -- from 49 percent to 68 percent.

It likewise rose slightly in Metro Manila (from 36 percent to 41 percent) and the rest of Luzon (from 47 percent to 50 percent).

In rural areas, self-rated poverty rose from 54 percent in June to 63 percent in September, while it also rose slightly in urban areas, from 41 percent to 44 percent.

Meanwhile, 43 percent of Filipino families considered themselves Food-Poor, 25 percent put themselves on the Food-Borderline, and 32 percent considered themselves Not Food-Poor.

Nationwide, self-rated food poverty rose from the range between 37 and 39 percent during the first two quarters of the year, to 43 percent, which is close to its levels from December 2005 to November 2006.

It declined from 40 percent in June to 33 percent in September in the Visayas, but rose sharply by 25 percentage points (from 34 percent to 59 percent) in Mindanao.

In Metro Manila, self-rated food poverty rose slightly from 29 percent to 33 percent, while it also rose from 40 percent to 41 percent in Luzon outside Manila.

SWS noted that the self-rated poverty and self-rated food poverty thresholds have been "sluggish for several years despite considerable inflation."

The self-rated poverty threshold is the monthly budget that poor households need in order not to consider themselves poor in general, while the self-rated food poverty threshold is the monthly food budget that poor households need in order not to consider themselves poor in terms of food.

The median poverty threshold in Metro Manila is P10,000 in the September survey, while it is P6,000 in the rest of Luzon and P5,000 in both Visayas and Mindanao.

The threshold has reached highs of P15,000 in Metro Manila, and P10,000 in the rest of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, SWS noted.

On the other hand, the media food-poverty thresholds in the September survey were at P4,500 in Metro Manila and P3,000 in the other study areas.

"A declining poverty threshold, despite a rising cost of living, means that households are lowering their living standards," SWS said, noting that the thresholds have considerably weakened against the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which rose by over 40 percent from the base year of 2000.

"The September 2007 median poverty threshold of P10,000 per month in Metro Manila is equivalent to only P6,863 in base year 2000," SWS added.

According to SWS surveys in 2000, the median SWS poverty threshold was already P10,000 a month. This is equivalent to P14,570 a month today, considering CPI.

"The difference (P4,570)... measures the extent of belt-tightening that took place," SWS said.

Household heads' ratings of general-poverty, food-poverty and experience of hunger were also "internally consistent."

Severe Hunger, which refers to families who experienced hunger "often" or "always" in the last three months, is 4.7 percent among poor households, 4.9 percent among the not-poor and 1.7 percent among families on the Food-Borderline. It is 6.5 percent among the self-rated food poor, compared to 2.8 percent among the not food-poor and 1.6 percent among those on the food-borderline.

Moderate Hunger, or those who experienced hunger "only once" or "a few times" in the last three months, is 23.5 percent among poor households, 9.7 percent among the not poor and 12.3 percent among those on the borderline. It is 24.9 percent among the self-rated food poor, 11.1 percent among the not food-poor and 12.9 percent among those on the food-borderline.

"As a concept, poverty allows for various degrees of deprivation. Those who suffer from hunger are much more deprived than those who simply suffer from poverty," SWS said.

The survey was conducted from Sept. 2 to 5 using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults divided into random samples of 300 each in Metro Manila, the balance of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It had a margin of error of plus-or-minus 3 percentage points.

SWS survey questions on the family's poverty and food-poverty are directed to the household head. The items are not commissioned and are included on SWS' own initiative.

[Sinjin P.]

GMA promises: ‘I swear to God,
they'll never go hungry again’

By Mia Gonzalez
Reporter

PRESIDENT Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said on Saturday night that she will do everything in her power to keep the poor from going even hungrier by staving off high prices of basic commodities such as rice.

Speaking at the launch and induction of officers of the Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCCI), the President also asked for the businessmen’s support for a government project to ensure that poor Filipinos have access to “affordable rice” during the Christmas season.

Citing an independent survey on national hunger levels in the country, the President said that while the results showed a decline among those living in poverty, the government must “accelerate the trend to eliminate poverty more aggressively.”

“That is why, during the holiday and beyond, we will do everything in our power to bring rice to those who need it most and work hard to protect the poor from high prices. I ask for your help in this hard work,” she said, adding that she had ordered the P1 billion more for the government’s food production and hunger mitigation program for the rest of the year.

She asked the PCCCI to be part of the non-government organization network under the food distribution program overseen by the Department of Social Welfare and Development; and to take part in the government’s scholarship program to provide more opportunities to poor students.

[Maxxclip]

Promises are made to be broken

[gen1]

the only promise i want to hear from that woman is -

"I - WILL - RETIRE - FROM - POLITICS - IN - 2010"

[le Reine]

well, no stupid politician would ever say such. She did once and her popularity plunged.

Hay naku, be careful in making promises. But at least the government did not contest the survey like it did before. I'm glad they're acknowledging that hunger and poverty is still high.

[gen1]

why not ? is there any other elective position higher than the presidency ?

cory and el tabako retired after their presidency. the american presidents have all retired to writing their memoirs after their presidency.

eh kung balak na namang mamuno ng pilipinas ni GMA pagkatapos ng termino niya sa 2010, gulo yan

[le Reine]

hehe... well, we can never say. Pero yeah, it will be chaotic if she would still cling to her seat beyond 2010. Sabi mo kasi "I will retire from politics," you never said from the Presidency. Malay mo tumakbong representative or governor.

[Sinjin P.]

^ Yeah, diba nung SONA, may pahiwatig si PGMA na maaaring tumakbo siya bilang congresswoman?

[gen1]

yup. and political analysts interpreted it that she wants to be prime minister should cha-cha change the form of government to parliamentary.

ano nga ba yung slogan namin in the darks years of the marcos dictatorship ?

"Tama na. . . Sobra na . . . Palitan na . . ."

naka ten years na naman siya as president. she shouldn't hang on and risk being removed extra-constitutionally.

[jonno]

What if she makes us a pledge that she'll divorce Mike A in 6 months???
Would that change your mind Gen??

[beads_strawberries]

^ I hope she just finishes her term and let history reveals that focusing on economic reforms will surely bring improvement to our country. With 14 presidents, we should know that it is so tiring to just focus on politics. More so, GMA is not fond of politicking, it's just used by her critics to oust her, but to no avail.

We should all be wary if hunger is at its record peak. I think the government is finding ways to mitigate hunger, especially with the recent Marianeth's death.

[Maxxclip]

Let's face the facts:
Rice fields are converted into gated communities.
Oil price hike.
Lack of agricultural machinery.
Over population : Inadequate food supply/ production
Imbalanced food distribution/ Government support.
Attitude towards agriculture.

[flesh_is_weak]

Originally Posted by Maxxclip

Let's face the facts:
Rice fields are converted into gated subdivisions.

that is so f-ing true...

if these rich people really want to live somewhere nice, clean, and peaceful, they need not look far...all they need to do is offer a bit of help to their poor counterparts so as they could make their lives better, and this country would be a much better place to live in

(and oh, as for those poor ones who are just plain lazy, heck, just burn em up!)

[gen1]

Originally Posted by jonno

What if she makes us a pledge that she'll divorce Mike A in 6 months???
Would that change your mind Gen??

10 years na siyang presidente by 2010. ok na iyon, @jonno. magulo na yan kung mamuno pa siya after 2010.

marcos extended his stay as chief executive when the end of his second and last term neared its end. He did so by junking the presidential system of government in favor of a parliamentary one. and by 1986 he had turned our country, once one of the brightest stars in this part of the world, into "the sick man of asia".

this is why members of my generation is wary of GMA. we see the ghost of marcos past in her. But the concensus in my circle is to simply let her finish her term in 2010. Pero iba na ang usapan if she hangs on after 2010.

[jonno]

Originally Posted by gen1

10 years na siyang presidente by 2010. ok na iyon, @jonno. magulo na yan kung mamuno pa siya after 2010.

marcos extended his stay as chief executive when the end of his second and last term neared its end. He did so by junking the presidential system of government in favor of a parliamentary one. and by 1986 he had turned our country, once one of the brightest stars in this part of the world, into "the sick man of asia".

this is why members of my generation is wary of GMA. we see the ghost of marcos past in her. But the concensus in my circle is to simply let her finish her term in 2010. Pero iba na ang usapan if she hangs on after 2010.

Oh yeah, she has to go by 2010.

[Maxxclip]

congrats kay zubiri at sa kanyang may-bahay, dahil sa malunggay, may baby na sila

[3cr]

Middle class shrinks as economy gains
(First of two parts)
Business World
http://www.bworldonline.com/BW112607/content.php?id=005

IT IS BUT NATURAL for any individual to expect his well-being to improve as the economy grows: Theoretically, such growth should trickle down or benefit all income classes through employment and other economic opportunities.

In the Philippines’ case, however, some segments of the social pyramid have apparently not felt the impact of a sustained economic uptick. An indication of this is a recent study pointing to the thinning of the middle class, instead of the expected expansion.

"In a span of six years from 1997 to 2003, close to four families for every 100 middle income families have been lost to the low income category," National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) Secretary General Romulo A. Virola and statisticians Mildred B. Addawe and Ma. Ivy T. Querubin noted in the study "Trends and Characteristics of the Middle-Income Class in the Philippines: Is it Expanding or Shrinking?"

The study said that while the number of middle class families grew to 3.42 million in 2000 from 3.26 million in 1997, a decline occurred in the succeeding three years. From 2000 to 2003, the ranks of the middle class dipped by 140,013 to 3.28 million.

In 1997, the middle class constituted families with annual incomes ranging from P148,307 to P1,207,122. In 2000, middle-income families had annual earnings of around P178,468 to P1,449,295 while in 2003, they had P203,109 to P1,651,632.

The middle class is also defined as those families owning certain assets such as a house and lot, a housing unit with strong roof materials, a refrigerator and a radio.

Percentage-wise, the share of the middle class to the overall population shrunk to 19.9% in 2003 from 22.7% in 2000 and 23% in 1997. This downtrend has left economists worrying as it implies that more Filipinos are closer to poverty than originally perceived.

Moreover, the middle class is an important segment of the economy, one that provides necessary resource inputs to enhance productivity and stimulate economic growth.

Countries with a big middle class have higher levels of income and growth, noted William Easterly in a 2001 paper for World Bank entitled "The Middle Class Consensus and Economic Development."

Economists interviewed by BusinessWorld offered varied explanations for the narrowing of the country’s middle class.

For Ponciano Intal, economist and director of the De La Salle University’s Angelo King Institute for Economics and Business Studies, the downtrend might be an offshoot of economic and political crises encountered by the country between 1997 to 2003.

"It could be that the narrowing was a result of all the closures arising from the East Asian crisis ... and then you have your political crisis in the latter years. This means it is your factory workers and salaried workers who were adversely affected," Mr. Intal said.

"What this suggests is we do have quite a bit of households that are on the borderline," he added.

"There is also a possibility of a significant drop for the duration in the terms of trade for agriculture, which means a significant source of that reduction in the middle class is really the farmer households who are in the lower middle class."

Data on gross value added for agriculture show a slowdown to 3.37% in 2003 from 6.56% in 1999. In the years leading to 2003 there was also a decline in aggregate receipts from agricultural exports.

"It is true there is a deterioration in the terms of trade in agriculture, we have a net deficit ... meaning we have more agricultural imports than exports ... but this does not clearly explain the decreasing number of the middle class," said Leonardo Gonzales of the agricultural economics think tank Sikap-Strive Foundation.

"Your farmers are in the lower middle class, but these are the more your progressive farmers," he added.

"Majority in rural areas are your landless farmers. So you still have to look at farm wages ... [and] in real terms, they are declining."

While employment in agriculture in the three years leading to 2003 increased, the average daily wage in real terms has indeed declined. About 37% of the population, at the time, depended on agriculture for livelihood.

It is also important to look at overall employment, not only employment in agriculture, the agricultural economist added.

Unemployment figures from 1997 to 2003 were relatively high, on the average, reaching double-digit levels. Moreover, underemployment during the period averaged 20%.

University of the Philippines economist Arsenio Balisacan, meanwhile, said "You would expect the proportion of middle income rising if there is growth ... At the very least, we should see some changes. But don’t expect a big change."

"On the other hand, the growth that we have been witnessing in recent years is not really that high after adjusting for population growth," he added.

For instance, in the past three years, growth on the average was 5% while the population expanded by 2.3%.

"Thus, we’re talking about just a 3% increase in per capita income ... that will not make a middle class," Mr. Balisacan said.

The bottom line, the UP economist said, is that it will take a much larger rate of growth to make a dent in the economic strata and the living condition of the ordinary Filipino.

"If we were growing as fast as India or China, then I would be very worried ... they have about 10% growth with population growth at just 1% or less," he said.

"In other words, to use this thinning of the middle class as a critic of the patterns of growth may not be fair," he further said.

Still, evidently, the thinning middle class is alarming news to economists as this implies that the Filipino family is becoming increasingly vulnerable to poverty.

[amigo32]

Originally Posted by jonno

Oh yeah, she has to go by 2010.

calling "Gloria forever" movement nasaan na kayo