A right or a privilege?

CHEERS TO GMA News for its four-part special “Biyaheng Totoo” which  looked into the basic problems of the  country. (24 Oras, State of the Nation with Jessica Soho, May 14-17,)

The four-part Biyaheng Totoo (Mga taga La Union, mas mahaba ang buhay kaysa sa ibang Pilipino [La Union residents have longer lifespans than other Filpinos]; Camiguin, talo pa ang Metro Manila sa employment rate [Camiguin beats Metro Manila in employment rate]; Kahirapan sa Guimaras, halos nasugpo na [Poverty in Guimaras almost wiped out]; Benguet, mayaman sa ginto pero mahirap ang mga residente [Benguet, rich in gold but with poor residents]) was rich in irony.

La Union residents have one of the longest lifespans in the country, but Biyaheng Totoo featured a 93 year old ill woman who hasn’t seen a doctor even once in her lifetime.  Camiguin has a high employment rate, but the wages of its resident are still not enough for their basic needs. In resource-rich Guimaras, poverty has almost been wiped out, but there are still residents who do not have enough  to eat.  Benguet’s per capita income is the highest in all the provinces in the country, but the income inequality between the poor and the rich in the province is the second highest in the country and is still widening.

The reports showed that despite economic growth, poverty is still a major problem in the country and basic needs such as health services,  jobs, and education among others are still a problem.