Poor not benefitting from economic growth, bishop laments

Despite the steady economic growth being experienced by the Philippines, many Filipinos still suffer from hunger. RICHARD REYES/INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

A Catholic bishop on Thursday lamented the irony that despite the Philippines steady economic growth, many Filipinos are still living in hunger and are jobless.

Cubao Bishop Honesto Ongtioco said the reflection of a truly developing country should be seen in hunger and poverty reduction.

“Kapag sinabing maraming nagugutom dumadami ibig sabihin hindi lahat ng tao nakikinabang sa ekonomiya, ilan lang siguro, ‘yun ang dapat bigyan ng pansin,” Ongtioco said over church-run Radyo Veritas.

(When you say more people remain hungry, that means only a few benefit from the economic growth, and that’s what we need to focus on.)

“Sa pagsisikap nating pagandahin ang ekonomiya hindi lamang ‘yung konti ang nakikinabang ngunit marami, lahat, kung lahat ay mababawasan ang nagugutom,” he added.

(In our effort to improve the economy, it will also be better if we can improve the lives of those living in hunger.)

The Philippines reported a 6.9-percent economic growth in the first quarter from the same period last year, the highest quarterly growth in almost three years.

READ: PH economy grows faster than expected at 6.9 percent

The administration of President Rodrigo Duterte set the 2016 gross domestic product growth to six to seven percent, from the earlier goal of 6.8 to 7.8 percent of the Aquino government.

READ: Duterte admin cuts 2016 GDP growth target to ‘conservative’ 6-7%

Ongtioco lamented that only wealthy businessmen and capitalists and not poor Filipinos benefit from a growing economy, as he urged the government to extend basic services to those who need it the most. IDL