Understanding Poverty in Samar, Philippines: A Sociological Perspective

International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS) | Volume VI, Issue V, May 2022 | ISSN 2454–6186

Understanding Poverty in Samar, Philippines: A Sociological Perspective

Dr. Abigail M. Cabaguing, Jordan Joseph G. Villanueva
Samar State University, Philippines

Abstract: Poverty in the Philippines remains a challenge. In a recent nationwide self-rated survey of the Social Weather Station, more Filipino households consider themselves poor despite the positive feedback on one of the government’s poverty alleviation programs, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4PS). This qualitative study utilized a phenomenological approach to explore the reasons behind this claim. It explored the experiences of poverty from the lower class status, particularly the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries. The study revealed that norms and practices in the family might contribute to their claim of poverty, such as poor lifestyle choices, difficulty prioritizing needs, lack of parenting style, and extended family. Parents’ low education and lack of financial literacy are seen as another factor of poverty. Likewise, religion plays a part in responding to poverty. Participants assert that there is psychological comfort in experiencing poverty because of their religious convictions. Thus, it can be reasoned that sociological factors can affect poverty.

Keywords: Poverty, Social Institutions, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Norms, Practices

I. INTRODUCTION

Poverty in the Philippines remains a challenge. More Filipino households consider themselves poor. A recent nationwide survey by the Social Weather Station showed that self-rated poverty among Filipinos rose to 46 percent in 2017 from 44 percent in 2016. In a study conducted by the Asian Development Bank (2009), the leading causes of poverty in the country include the following: low to moderate economic growth for the past 40 years; low growth elasticity of poverty reduction; weakness in employment generation, and the quality of jobs generated; failure to fully develop the agriculture sector; high inflation during crisis periods; high levels of population growth; high and persistent levels of inequality (incomes and assets), which dampen the positive impacts of economic expansion; and recurrent shocks and exposure to risks such as economic crisis, conflicts, natural disasters, and “environmental poverty.”
The main goal of the government is poverty reduction. Several poverty monitoring is being conducted to provide measures of poverty which have become the basis for poverty reduction plans and programs for national and local governments.

Read More