Councilor Leandro Yangot has introduced a comprehensive poverty diagnosis plan that aims to mitigate the various dimensions of poverty in the city.
The proposed ordinance, which seeks to address poverty at its core, is aligned with national policies such as the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act or Republic Act 8245 and the Local Government Code of 1991 or RA 7160. It emphasizes targeted interventions and local empowerment to improve living standards.
The proposed diagnosis plan encompasses several dimensions of poverty, each with specific indicators to assess the well-being of the community.
In terms of survival, the ordinance focuses on health and nutrition by measuring the proportion of child mortality and malnutrition among children aged zero to five years old.
Access to basic amenities, such as safe water and sanitary toilet facilities, is also considered crucial indicators of survival.
The security and shelter dimension examines the housing conditions of residents by looking at indicators like squatting and makeshift housing.
Peace and order is assessed through indicators related to crime victimization among households to provide insight into the safety and security of residents.
The enabling income dimension focuses on income levels by identifying households below the poverty and food thresholds as well as those experiencing food insecurity by eating less than three meals a day.
Unemployment rates are also measured to gauge economic opportunities and livelihood stability within the community.
The education dimension has indicators focusing on elementary and secondary participation rates. These indicators reflect access to education and opportunities for skills development which are essential for breaking the cycle of poverty and improving future prospects for individuals and families.
The ordinance, once enacted, will mandate the creation of local poverty diagnosis and planning councils at both city and barangay levels. These councils will be responsible for data collection, analysis, and the formulation of actionable plans to reduce poverty efficiently.
Yangot said there is a need to target the most vulnerable sectors in the community and harness local and external resources to drive meaningful exchange.
He emphasized the importance of a collaborative approach by enhancing community engagement and data-driven decision-making in all poverty reduction efforts.
The proposed ordinance has been approved on first reading by the city council and referred to the committee on social services, women, and urban poor for review. – Jordan G. Habbiling
