The poverty incidence in the Municipality of Loreto, Agusan del Sur is 56.96% based on the 2018 CBMS survey. Aside from poverty incidence, 46.97% of households are living below the food threshold ( Php 16,013.00 per capita annually). If we will consider the “international poverty line” ($1.90 per day - updated from the previous poverty line of $1.25 to $1.90 in 2015) set under Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG1: No Poverty) of United Nations, the total poverty incidence could be higher because the poverty threshold stated in the survey is Php 22,957 per capita annually. If we will divide it by the number of days in a year (365 days in 2015) each household lives below Php 62.90 per day. Considering the average household size of 4, a person in a household has a budget of only Php 15.72 per day if it is equally divided.
The proportion of persons in the labor force who are unemployed is also high (49.40%) and female has the highest proportion which is at 57.70% based on the 2018 CBMS survey.
I'm pro-Duterte, but President Rodrigo Duterte's statement about community pantry is something I disagree with. The Community Pantry projects initiated by different organizations are not the problem. Many people are hungry. That's the real problem.
In the community where the community pantry of the Municipal Local Government of Loreto, Agusan del Sur headed by the Municipal Mayor Lorife M. Otaza and her husband, Engineer Alvin, and in collaboration with the local/national agencies was operated for several hours, the poverty rate is at around 90%.
By just looking at the pictures below, anyone can tell how impoverished the inhabitants in that community are.
The children experienced the taste of imported chocolates
According to the child in pink, their dresses are all from donations.
The travel going to the community was not easy, but the genuine kindness and care of the Mayor to her people are stronger than the obstacles.
From the children, youngsters, and to the elders, genuine happiness was felt as they saw the team. Goods and services were brought into the area.
The community has many potentials for economic development because of its location. Unfortunately, the lack of education and access to information kept them poor. It was once rebels territory too.
With the right leadership of the current municipal Mayor, we are hopeful that the community will become progressive someday.
Do you want to help us build peaceful and progressive communities in our Municipality, and eventually to our neighboring Municipalities?
You can help us by sending your proposals for collaboration/cooperation
here. It'd be a pleasure to work with you.
Click
here to see more about this project.
