Task Force to check poverty in Samar pushed

TACLOBAN CITY, Sept. 28 (PNA) – The Eastern Visayas Regional Development Council (RDC) is pushing for the creation of a Task Force to formulate a Marshall Plan to curb poverty in three Samar provinces.

Leyte Governor Leopoldo Dominico Petilla, former RDC chairman said that a task force is needed to “deeply understand the problem on poverty in Samar areas and formulate a Marshal Plan.”

“The region cannot push for economic growth if the challenge on poverty persists in Samar Island. 

The economic ranking of the region will never improve if areas in Samar remain poor,” said Petilla, who just concluded his term as RDC head on June 30.

In response to the proposal, the National Economic Development Authority has allocated funds for research development.

One of the studies approved for this year is to determine the socio cultural factors on the poverty situation in the region.

“NEDA Region 8 allotted PHP5 million funds to conduct the said study which will be bidded out to come up with scientific and objective study on the factors and root causes of poverty,” said NEDA Regional Director Bonifacio Uy. 

Aside from the NEDA initiative, the RDC is also counting on studies initiated through the implementation of Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan program, which downloaded PHP5 billion funds to Samar remote communities.

The RDC also urged national government agencies to step up support to Samar provinces under exisiting programs.

The Philippine Statistics Authority has identified Samar provinces as among the 10 areas with the highest poverty incidence in the country. Eastern Samar had 55.4 percent while both Samar and Northern Samar posted 43.5 percent poverty incidence. (PNA)
FPV/SARWELL Q. MENIANO