ASIA/PHILIPPINES - 33 percent of the population in the Philippines does not eat enough food and lives under the poverty line on less than a dollar a day

Rome (Fides Service) - According to an inquiring involving 1,200 people, one third of the population in the Philippines does not eat enough food to live properly. 29% of those interviewed said the main concern is to find food for the day.
In the next five years to meet the country’s food requisites the government aims to increase food production and extend farmlands. There exists a programme which gives capital to 800,000 small and medium businesses to help them achieve their operations. However, compared to October 2004, percentages have improved. In fact last year 43 per cent of the population did not have enough to eat.
The World Bank says that in the Philippines 42.39% of the people live below the line of poverty on less than a dollar a day (1,54 Euro). (AP) (3/5/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:18; Parole:191)