Poverty In Philippines

Introduction:

This study is about the economic, political and socio- cultural conditions of the Urban Poor. Urban poor has become an interesting topic now days since it is very relevant to modern society. Poverty tends to be the greatest ill that plagues the Filipino as a society. The poor ranges from poor, very poor, and to the very, very poor. The topic URBAN POOR was selected from a group of topics given and then given emphasis by the author according to the relevance of this specific group in today's world. Each condition is specifically analyzed in different aspects and parts to further understand the study. In doing so, one will be able to broaden one's ideas and analysis in certain conditions in relation to the topic about Urban poor. This will also have an analysis of their general condition using a theory application- which most probably is CONFLICT THEORY, a theory discussed in class with relation to the Sociological Theories presented.

This paper was developed as a requirement and further study of the Sociological Theories presented in class and as a meaningful output of all the lectures and discussions that happened during class. Analysis was done by choosing a theoretical orientation from the ones discussed in class.

Students and professionals are the intended audiences of this study. This study will hopefully be of help in the development of concrete analysis and plans not just towards the Sociological development of the urban poor, but of the holistic development as well.

The informations contained in this study were based on researches provided by related literature and on- line based sources, more of secondary sources. Sources related to the study are referred to the bibliography at the end of the study. Conclusions are from the author of the text, as a product of understanding from the related sources. With all the informations and analysis represented, may this hopefully, a stepping stone in solving problems of today's society.

Objectives:

This study aims at definite objectives.

Generally, this study aims to:

1. To apply learned theories in Sociology1 class through thorough research, investigation and analysis of the given data.

2. To understand Sociological theories for further studies.

3. To be able to give out a concrete and useful out put out of the learned theoretical orientations discussed in class.

Furthermore, it desires to accomplish these Specific objectives:

1. To construct a study applying the theories learned in Sociology1 class.

2. To be able to provide informations in the up- to- date state of the urban poor.

3. To be able to help obliterate myths about the urban poor.

4. To mirror the present image of the urban poor through the data provided.

5. To provide ways on how to alleviate people from poverty.

Situations Concerning Urban Poor

a. Economic Situation

Economically, Urban Poor are obviously challenged. Mostly, this is caused by the huge inequality gap worldwide. During the 1900, people in the ten richest nations earned nine times as much per capita as did to the ten poorest nations. This gap increased to thirty to one in 1960 and to seventy- two to one in 2001. (Gergen, 2001a) It was also discovered that the richest 20 percent of the world's people receive at least 150 times more income than the poorest 20 percent. (Street, 2001b). Some of these poor are not necessarily those who have no jobs, some of them have jobs, but the wages they are earning are not enough to support an entire family. Most of them live below the official poverty line and the percentage of those who live below the poverty line has not changed, or if it did, it just worsens.

Poverty is also the greatest among those who do not have established residences, the homeless and migrant workers. Most of the family members of the families in the urban places are all working, starting from the parents to the children. Most of these children work in vending, cleaning and watching cars, begging, scavenging, carrying baggage, shining shoes, pick pockets and prostitution. Impoverishment may lead to desperate parents selling their children to brokers who in turn sell them to slave holders.

At the same time as there is a rampant case of unemployment. Unemployment is an involuntary idleness on the part of those who have failed to find employment or who have lost their latest jobs, but are able to find work. (Miranda, 1973), A lot of people are experiencing hardships just to survive. Unemployment occurs when there is a dysfunction in the economic system. A lot of people are waiting for the right jobs, but since the there is a competition there are lots of people vying for certain jobs. Others are fortunate, while others are not.

b. Political Situation

The political situation in our society is at its worst. No matter how we try to change how the things work in our political system, there are still some things that just will not go easily. More and more officials of the government, no matter how they are placed in the government succumb to transactions full of anomalies. The "honesty" infused to us seems to be disappearing because of the overwhelming effects of materialism and the worsening effects of socio- economic conditions. Our excessive desire to own more wealth and money made the virtue of honesty to be a thing of the past.

This dreadful situation affects the poor people much m ore than the rich ones. There are disproportionate services given to these groups of people. Let us look at the case of the judicial system. A judge renders an unjust judgment in the case submitted to him against a rich person sued by a poor man for decision due to the bribes given to him by the more affluent ones. There is unequal ruling given since the richer was able to give ample money to survive. The poor victim was then left with nothing at hand. `

The former Manila Archbishop Cardinal Sin even expressed regret in this situation saying that: "Hardly a day goes by without some newspaper report about corruption and more corruption."

Who they think will be more affected by this situation? The Privileged ones? The Business Tycoons? Of course not. The people who will be affected by this will be those at the cellar dwellers of the society.

Although