The task of checking poverty now confronts the new administration of President Aquino III.

A tough job or a “major, major problem” to tackle for P-Noy and his boys.

***

The gravity of the problem has surfaced in the on-going review of the proposed national budget in Congress and the recent country Millenium goals review under the auspices of the United Nations.

The figures speak for themselves — and Pinoys’ stomachs grumble.

***

About 70 percent of Pinoys subsists on a meager P42-daily budget, Senator Edgardo J. Angara says, citing a World Bank study.

Just good for a kilo of rice and “tuyo.”

***

Angara expresses reservations over the proposed P1.645-trillion budget for 2011, saying “my main concern about the overall budget framework is that it is not responding to the basic, economic, and social problems of our country.”

Budget should address poverty, he suggests.

***

Angara, former head of the Senate’s Finance Committee, notes that the budget includes P357.1 billion worth of debt service and interest payments, P286.9 billion for Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA), and P22.4 billion for government contribution for employees’ retirement and life insurance.

Wrong priorities?

***

"About 70 percent of our people live on 42 pesos a day, and about 4,000 families are hungry. That’s a very serious problem. It’s not just simply lack of economic growth, but what we have is a jobless growth which widens the income gap even more,” Angara says.

Indeed, a grim picutre that must be remedied.

***

“We should concern ourselves not so much with taming our deficit. Instead we should remind ourselves that our goal is to grow our country, and enhance the income and living standards of our people through job creation,” Angara argues.

Something for our national leaders to think about — a priority shift.

***

Angara further questions why the government seems to be pulling out stimulus programs when other Southeast Asian countries are using public spending to stimulate growth,and stresses the need for government to design a hunger mitigation program.

More projects and pro-food programs, less hunger.

***

Millennium review offcials also express concern over the country’s poverty picture.

Thin-body, big head noted.

***

They agree that RP’s poverty level should be brought down to 12.5 percent.

An ideal figure that should hopefully be achieved…