Blog #3, Struggling out of poverty rut

Dustin Chance

SOC 202

 Analysis

This article discusses the state of poverty in the Philippines, specifically Camarines Norte.  The NSCB disclosed in a 2012 survey of poverty incidence in the country—its most recent—that Camarines Norte’s poor families comprised 21.7 percent, or almost 22 in every 100 families.  This particular survey, which is undertaken every three years, measures the total value of minimum requirements of an individual to survive with the most basic needs in a given environment or locality.  Camarines Norte, has a population of over half a million and 116,000 households in 12 towns.  Even with these large numbers of families in poverty, this area has progressed in ways.  The construction of government infrastructure projects, a growing tourism industry, relative peace, and the production increases of Rice, Pineapple, and Coconut, are all major reasons that the province began to recover drastically.  These infrastructure prompted the increase of workers pay, and help stir the local economy in a positive way.

Summary

When I first began reading the article I thought it was going to be a negative one, but after reading through the article in its entirety, it proved to be a very positive one.  Camarines Norte has actually began changing in a positive way and its economy is gradually flourishing.  Records from the provincial tourism office in Daet, the capital town, showed that 138,151 tourists went to Camarines Norte in 2010, 155,106 tourists went in 2011, and 190,918 tourists visited Camarines Norte in 2012.  With any country, city, state, or location, an increase in tourism will almost always result in a boost of the economy.  This particular article really verified this idea and showed statistics to back it up.  As the tourist rate increased, so did the state of the economy.  This brought in more money and more attention to the area.  The construction of concrete roads, stretching over 250 kilometers, was also a major contribution to the growth and production of the area.  These roads connected isolated villages to the mainstream road network and helped facilitate the movement of goods and services to the town center.  Overall, this was a positive article that showed both production and growth, of a once poverty stricken economy.

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/580888/struggling-out-of-poverty-rut