The Successes And Failures Of The Philippines In
Reducing Poverty, Homelessness, and Unemployment
Ian Y.H. Chua
1, 2, 3, 4
Email: ianyhchua2024@gmail.com
12 January 2025
Introduction
The Philippines has made strides in addressing poverty, homelessness, and
unemployment through legislative action and the implementation of various social
programs. Despite these eorts, signicant challenges remain, as evidenced by the high
poverty incidence of 15.5% in 2023 and the continued prevalence of informal settlements
and job insecurity [1]. This paper examines the Republic Acts (RAs) and policies enacted
to address these issues, highlights their salient features, and evaluates their
implementation, successes, and shortcomings.
Legislative Actions and Relevant Republic Acts
1. Republic Act No. 8425: Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act
This act institutionalized the Social Reform Agenda to strengthen government
initiatives in poverty alleviation. It created the National Anti-Poverty Commission
(NAPC), which ensures the alignment of national and local poverty reduction
programs [2].
2. Republic Act No. 10868: Centenarians Act of 2016
This law provides cash incentives to Filipino centenarians, acknowledging the
government’s responsibility to support senior citizens and reduce old-age
poverty [3].
3. Republic Act No. 11291: Magna Carta of the Poor
This act guarantees the rights of the poor to food, education, decent work,
healthcare, and housing. It mandates the government to create a framework
ensuring that these rights are upheld [4].
4. Republic Act No. 11037: Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act
This law aims to combat hunger and malnutrition among children by providing
free school-based feeding programs [5].
5. Republic Act No. 7279: Urban Development and Housing Act (UDHA)
The UDHA seeks to provide aordable housing for underprivileged and homeless
citizens. It mandates local governments to allocate land for social housing and
to prevent illegal evictions [6].
6. Republic Act No. 11223: Universal Health Care Act
This act ensures that all Filipinos have access to quality healthcare services
without nancial hardship. It integrates public and private healthcare systems to
provide comprehensive medical coverage [7].
7. Republic Act No. 10931: Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act
This law provides free tuition and other school fees in state universities and
colleges, making higher education more accessible to marginalized sectors [8].
8. Republic Act No. 10361: Domestic Workers Act (Batas Kasambahay)
This act establishes labor protections for domestic workers, including minimum
wage, social security, and healthcare benets [9].
9. Republic Act No. 6727: Wage Rationalization Act
This law set up mechanisms for determining fair wages and established regional
wage boards to address disparities in wage levels across regions [10].
Realities on the Ground and Failures in Implementation
While these Republic Acts and policies provide a robust legal framework, their
implementation has faced signicant hurdles:
1. Inadequate Funding and Resource Allocation
Many programs suer from insuicient funding, which limits their reach and
eectiveness. For example, housing programs under RA 7279 have failed to meet
targets due to budget constraints and land acquisition challenges [11].
2. Corruption and Lack of Accountability
Corruption at various levels of government undermines the eectiveness of
social programs. Funds intended for poverty alleviation and housing projects are
often misused or misallocated, leading to delays and substandard outcomes
[12].
3. Weak Monitoring and Evaluation Systems
Many programs lack robust mechanisms for monitoring and evaluating their
impact. For instance, the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act has
been uneven, with rural areas still facing severe healthcare shortages [13].
4. Bureaucratic Ineiciency
Complex and cumbersome processes hinder the timely delivery of services. This
is evident in the slow rollout of housing projects and delayed provision of cash
transfers under the 4Ps program [14].
5. Misperceptions and Resistance from Stakeholders
Some stakeholders, including local government units (LGUs), resist
implementing certain policies due to political considerations or lack of
understanding of their benets. This resistance hampers nationwide adoption
and success.
Need for Strict Monitoring, Implementation, and Accountability
To address these challenges, the following measures are essential:
1. Strengthen Oversight Mechanisms
Independent oversight bodies should be empowered to monitor program
implementation and ensure accountability. Regular audits and performance
reviews can help identify and address ineiciencies.
2. Enhance Transparency and Public Participation
Transparent reporting of program outcomes and expenditures can foster public
trust. Engaging civil society organizations in monitoring can provide additional
layers of accountability.
3. Increase Budget Allocations
Adequate funding is critical to the success of poverty alleviation programs. The
government must prioritize budget allocations for housing, education,
healthcare, and employment initiatives.
4. Capacity Building for LGUs
LGUs play a pivotal role in implementing national policies. Providing training and
technical assistance can enhance their capacity to execute programs eectively.
5. Promote Public Awareness
Educating the public about the benets of these programs can generate demand
for their proper implementation and create pressure on government agencies to
deliver.
The Benets of Money Creation
As highlighted in a related paper by the same author, titled. “Leveraging Money Creation
to Address Poverty, Homelessness, and Unemployment in the Philippines”, controlled
money creation can play a signicant role in funding programs aimed at reducing poverty,
homelessness, and unemployment [15]. By strategically directing newly created funds
into underutilized sectors and implementing ination-control measures such as
progressive taxation and price controls, the government can achieve substantial
economic growth and social improvements without risking ination. This approach oers
a transformative opportunity for the Philippines to further strengthen its policy framework
and ensure better outcomes for its citizens.
Conclusion
The Philippines has laid a solid legislative foundation for addressing poverty,
homelessness, and unemployment. However, the gap between policy and practice
remains wide due to systemic issues in implementation. By addressing these challenges
through stronger oversight, better funding, and enhanced accountability, the country can
realize the full potential of its laws and policies to achieve inclusive and sustainable
development.
Acknowledgments
This paper was developed with the assistance of ChatGPT 4.0, which provided insights and renements in the
articulation of philosophical and scientic concepts.
1
Founder/CEO, ACE-Learning Systems Pte Ltd.
2
M.Eng. Candidate, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX.
3
M.S. (Anatomical Sciences Education) Candidate, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL.
4
M.S. (Medical Physiology) Candidate, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH.
References
1. Philippine Statistics Authority. (2023). Poverty and unemployment statistics.
Retrieved from https://psa.gov.ph
2. Republic Act No. 8425: Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act. (1997).
3. Republic Act No. 10868: Centenarians Act of 2016. (2016).
4. Republic Act No. 11291: Magna Carta of the Poor. (2019).
5. Republic Act No. 11037: Masustansyang Pagkain para sa Batang Pilipino Act.
(2018).
6. Republic Act No. 7279: Urban Development and Housing Act. (1992).
7. Republic Act No. 11223: Universal Health Care Act. (2019).
8. Republic Act No. 10931: Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act.
(2017).
9. Republic Act No. 10361: Domestic Workers Act (Batas Kasambahay). (2013).
10. Republic Act No. 6727: Wage Rationalization Act. (1989).
11. Ballesteros, M. M. (2009). Housing policy in the Philippines. Philippine Institute
for Development Studies Discussion Paper Series.
12. Transparency International. (2023). Corruption perception index. Retrieved from
https://www.transparency.org
13. Department of Health. (2023). Status of Universal Health Care implementation.
Retrieved from https://doh.gov.ph
14. Reyes, C. M., et al. (2018). Assessment of the 4Ps program. Philippine Institute
for Development Studies.
15. Chua, Ian Y.H. (2025). Leveraging Money Creation to Address Poverty, Homeless-
ness, and Unemployment in the Philippines. (Unpublished).
