Poverty

NSTP-01
Portia De Mesa
Faces of Poverty
What is poverty?
• the absence or lack of basic
needs or capabilities that
will enable human beings to
function at a minimally
acceptable level in society
(Peace and Equity Foundation)
What is poverty?
• the lack of material
resources and the absence of
capabilities, opportunities
and power that will allow an
individual to fully assume
his/her role as a member of
the community (National Anti-
Poverty Commission, 1998)
What is poverty?
• state of deprivation in ALL aspects of
individual life:
a. economic
b. political
c. sociocultural
Dimensions of Poverty

Economic

POVERTY
Socio-
Political cultural
Dimensions of Poverty Lacking or no access to
economic opportunities
Manifestations:
and basic services
-unemployment and
underemployment
- high price of basic
commodities: food, Economic
gasoline, medicines
-availability of decent and
sustainable job
-low purchasing power
- easier to quantify
-unavailability of basic
or measure
services: health care,
education, shelter,
reproductive care, clothing
Dimensions of Poverty
Lacking skills and Manifestations:
confidence needed for -subordination/
self- governance and exploitation by higher
self- determination power
- limited control over
resources
-powerlessness
-lack of information
-unrepresented or no
participation in making
Political decisions that affect
their lives
Dimensions of Poverty
Manifestations: Norms, traditions,
-marginalization / seclusion attitudes, and values
attributing to the
- low self- esteem and poor
vulnerability or
self- concept (erosion of
powerlessness of the
dignity and self- respect)
people
-concept of superiority and
inferiority leading to
discrimination and colonial
thinking
Socio-
-poor participation
cultural
-insecurity
Dimensions of Poverty
unemployment
high cost of commodities
contractualization

Economic

POVERTY
Socio-
Political cultural
corruption poor self- concept
nepotism discrimination
accountability insecurity
Cycle of Poverty
DEPRIVATION

FRUSTRATION
DEPENDENCY
UNCONTROLLABILITY

PASSIVITY
HELPLESSNESS

DEPRESSION
Filipino Cycle of Poverty and Social Failure

Repression
Socioeconomic
by power
deprivation
structures
Frustration

Explosion
Assertion

Repression Aggression
by power Official
structures Inaction
Types of Poverty

1. Generational Poverty and Chronic Poverty

- individuals and families have been
living in poverty for generations.
Types of Poverty

2. Situational Poverty and Transitory Poverty

- people experience poverty all of a
sudden due to disaster experience.
Types of Poverty

3. Absolute Poverty
- subsistence below minimum, socially
acceptable living conditions.
- independent of time and place
Types of Poverty

4. Relative Poverty
– reliant on cross-income comparisons
within a group or population (national,
regional, etc.)
So, how does it feel to
live in poverty?
Measure of Poverty
• HDI – Human Development Index
a. health – life expectancy
b. knowledge - functional literacy
c. standard of living – measured by per capita income
Measure of Poverty
• Income /Expenditure-Based Approach

-includes government or official estimates, and measure poverty

incidence through the head-count ratio or the percentage of
people with per capita annual income below the poverty threshold
Question
What is the poverty incidence in the
Philippines?
Answer
In 2015 as per PSA, 21.6%
So, how it is to live in poverty?...
To live in poverty is to live in
vulnerability,
it is to live in constant
insecurity,
unsure of what tomorrow will
bring,
it is to deal with anxiety…
10 Poorest Provinces in the Country
10. Agusan del Sur 5. Maguindanao
9. Siquijor 4. Northern Samar
8. Zamboanga del Norte 3. Sarangani
7. Sultan Kudarat 2. Sulu
6. Bukidnon 1. Lanao del Sur