How poor is poor? Disproving the Philippine government poverty threshold: a case study on poverty and hunger in BASECO and Paradise Heights (Smokey Mountain)

Abstract

Dubbed as one of the richest cities in the country, Metro Manila is home to various establishments as well as government offices that cater to the needs of the elite and the rest of the masses. Yet, in the city sprawling with the country's elite lie the so-called underbelly of society - the impoverished Filipinos. And their story, despite various attempts to understate it, paints a darker picture than what the government has led us to believe. Clearly, there is something the government is not telling us. And, it is, how poor is poor? This study will show the extent of poverty and hunger among the poor households. It will examine current government methodologies and indicators that determine the rate of hunger and poverty. Moreover, it will also identify the existence, efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of government programs addressing poverty and hunger based on the knowledge of the respondents. Ultimately, this study will reveal the distorted picture of poverty in the Philippines as well as the people's role in the country's liberation from poverty.