Tag Archive for: Poverty in the Philippines

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2 Organizations Fighting Poverty in the Philippines

Poverty in the PhilippinesIn the Philippines, in the heart of Tondo, Manila, The GUIDON reports that roughly 12,000 people live in a community surrounded by garbage. This community, Barangay 105, better known as Happyland, is often described as one of Manila’s poorest informal settlements. Homes are built close together, many using makeshift materials, while piles of waste surround the neighborhood.

Origin of Happyland

Happyland’s name comes from “Hapilan,” a word from a local Visayan dialect meaning “smelly trash.” The name reflects the community’s history: families settled around a dumpsite as they came to Tondo looking for work or after being displaced from other communities. For many, the city offered the possibility of employment but not necessarily affordable housing or reliable access to basic services.

Tondo is Manila’s largest district by population, with 654,220 residents in the 2020 census. Across Tondo, informal communities have grown alongside the city’s economic activity, while residents continue to face inadequate water access, sanitation, waste disposal and housing.

Poverty in the Philippines

Poverty in the Philippines fell to its lowest level in 2025. About 1.9 million families, or 6.4% of all families in the country, did not earn enough to afford their basic food and other needs. This was the first time the family poverty rate fell below 10%. The decrease was partly because people’s incomes increased faster than the cost of basic needs. Between 2023 and 2025, the average income per person increased by 22%, while the amount of money needed to cover basic needs increased by 5.5%.

While the numbers show real progress, millions of Filipinos still struggle to afford basic necessities, indicating that poverty in the Philippines remains a serious problem. In 2025, about 11.08 million Filipinos, or 9.7% of the population, lived below the national poverty threshold.

Factors Contributing to Poverty

Several factors make it difficult for people to escape poverty in the Philippines. Limited access to education can leave people without the skills needed to qualify for better-paying jobs, keeping them in low-wage or unstable work.

Limited access to healthcare can make the situation even harder. When people cannot afford medical care, an illness can prevent them from working and create additional expenses for their families.  Furthermore, unequal distribution of wealth and resources also contributes to poverty, as economic opportunities and resources are not shared equally across the population. Additionally, corruption can weaken efforts to reduce poverty in the Philippines when public funds intended for services such as education, healthcare and housing are misused or poorly managed.

Despite these challenges, organizations work to create more opportunities for families in Happyland and improve their living conditions. Among them are Project PEARLS and odoVita.

Project PEARLS

Project PEARLS is a nonprofit that helps children and families living in poverty in the Philippines. Melissa Villa and her family started it in 2010 after Villa learned about families living and working in Ulingan, a community where people were exposed to toxic smoke from charcoal production.

In Tondo, since 2013 the organization has provided meals, learning activities and scholarships to families in the community. PEARLS has also helped move families from Ulingan to a safer community in Bulacan. Today, the organization serves thousands of meals each week and helps children stay in school and have more opportunities for their future.

Project PEARLS focuses on these main programs:

  • Education & Literacy: The organization provides scholarships to students. It provides school supplies, transportation money, food, project materials, tutoring and other support that can make it easier for children to stay in school. The program has grown from its first group of 40 preschool students in 2010 to more than 700 students from preschool through college.
  • Healthcare and Nutrition: Its Hunger Relief Program serves more than 9,000 meals each week across three communities, including Tondo. The organization also runs a free health clinic in Tondo that provides medicines, vitamins and other medical support.
  • Empowerment through Skills Development: PEARLS focuses on helping children, young people and women gain practical skills that can give them more opportunities in the future. The organization holds workshops, training sessions, mentoring programs and educational trips where children and young people can learn outside of the traditional classroom. For women, its G.R.O.W. (Giving Resources and Opportunities to Women) program provides training in skills that can help them find work or start small sources of income.

odoVita

odoVita is a nonprofit organization working to improve health and access to medical care in underserved communities, including Happyland. Some of odoVita’s work in Tondo includes:

  • Care for pregnant women: odoVita provides health services during pregnancy and after childbirth, helping mothers identify and address health problems that could affect them or their babies.
  • Healthcare for children: The organization helps prevent and treat common childhood illnesses while providing guidance on nutrition, feeding and malnutrition.
  • Treatment for chronic illnesses: Residents can receive support for conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and other long-term illnesses, with an emphasis on early detection and ongoing care.
  • Adolescent health: The organization provides teenagers with health information and services, including support around preventing unwanted pregnancies and making informed decisions about their health.

The organization has also opened a clinic in Barangay 105 to bring care closer to families in the community.

Conclusion

Together, these organizations help families address both their immediate needs, such as food and medicine, and the longer-term challenges that can make it difficult to escape poverty in the Philippines, including limited access to education, employment and other resources. Their work shows that breaking the cycle of poverty is possible when families have access to the support and opportunities they need to build more secure futures.

– Daniela Escobar

Daniela is based in Huntington, NY, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Courts for Kids: Alleviate Poverty and Building Community

Courts for kidsIn low-income countries, a basketball court can be much more than just a place to play. Courts for Kids, a nonprofit that uses sports to alleviate poverty, was officially established in 2007 after an initial volunteer trip to the Philippines in 2006.

Impact in the Philippines

In 2006, 72.5% of people in the Philippines lived on less than $5.50 per day. As of 2023, that number has decreased to 58.7%.

Initially, 24 students and adults, mostly from Southwest Washington, went to the Philippines to build a multi-use sports court. Since then, Courts for Kids has built 286 courts in 35 countries, with the participation of more than 5,947 Americans.

The courts are often built for soccer, basketball, and volleyball, but sports are not their only purpose. They serve as community gathering spaces, which can help boost the local economy.

Additionally, crops can be dried on the courts during harvest season. This additional space makes local agriculture more efficient, boosting the local economy.

Community Enhancements

In some communities, locals have added kitchens next to the courts. This addition generates income for the community through food sales and makes food more widely available, leading to better nutrition. Courts for Kids uses sports to alleviate poverty in this way.

The courts also create numerous social benefits, helping bring children from different communities together. The consistent use of the courts also fosters bonds between local community members. Shared public spaces strengthen communities.

The courts are funded by community fundraisers, volunteer contributions and corporate sponsors providing materials and funds.

Long-term Developments

The courts are not just for play. They offer opportunities to help underprivileged communities thrive.

Courts for Kids demonstrates how community-based activities can assist communities suffering from extreme poverty. It is not just about athletics; it is about long-term development and community building.

All of the courts built by Courts for Kids are used daily or almost daily, continually improving their communities. Additionally, they have led to an 88% increase in young girls participating in sports.

A court is an investment. It is an investment in communities, health and the futures of children in low-income communities. Through both local partnerships and community participation, each court becomes a foundation for opportunity and creates a more resilient and sustainable community.

– Julia Cholerton

Julia is based in Gig Harbor, WA, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Pexels

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Everything To Know About Remittances to Philippines

Remittances to PhilippinesRemittances are an important driver of economic growth in the Philippines. Remittances amounted to $38.34 billion in 2024, accounting for 8.7% of the GDP. Approximately 40% of all remittances to the Philippines came from the United States, followed by Singapore and Saudi Arabia.

Background Information About the Philippines

The Philippines is an island country in Southeast Asia in the Pacific Ocean. The country is the twelfth-most populated country in the world, with a population of more than 117 million.

The Philippines fell under Spanish rule from the mid-16th century to the late-19th century, until it became a U.S. territory. Between 1906 and 1934, an estimated 120,000 Filipinos migrated overseas to Hawaii to work in sugarcane and pineapple plantations. After independence in 1946, many struggled with rural instability and moved overseas to the U.S. Since then, the U.S. has remained the top destination for Filipino migrants.

Despite poverty rates falling from 23.5% in 2015 to 15.5% in 2023, poverty in the Philippines remains high. About 28% of Filipinos remain at risk for falling back into poverty, especially from climate related risks. Additionally, the unemployment rate in the Philippines remains high, which was at 4.8% in May 2026 and is higher than the previous year’s 3.9%.

Migration was initially a way to curb high unemployment and poverty rates; however, it has changed to a long-term solution for national economic development.

The Philippines launched an overseas employment program in the 1970s, which led to many Filipinos pursuing work in the Middle East, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Remittances from diaspora communities are an intrinsic part of the Philippines’ economy and household income.

Importance of Remittance to the Philippines

  1. Drives the National Economy – Remittances continue to support the Philippine economy despite global uncertainties. Remittances support consumer spending, stabilize the peso and provide a buffer against shocks.
  2. Helps Household Consumption Grow – Remittances help household consumption, which grew by 3% in the first quarter of 2026. This allows the Philippines to rely on consumer spending to grow their GDP.
  3. Covers Essential Needs – About 75% of remittances are used for food, medical expenses, school fees and housing expenses. Meanwhile, about 25% is used to save and invest in assets.
  4. Key Pillar to the Local Community – Remittances support families while also contributing to spending on local businesses and job creation.
  5. Empowers Women – About 1.25 million or 57.2% of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) were women. Remittances empower families and shifts traditional gender roles.

Looking Ahead

Remittances to the Philippines remain an important source of inflow to the Philippine economy. Remittances support domestic consumption, strengthens communities and drives national growth. Although there are criticisms of heavily relying on remittances, it continues to be an important driver of economic growth and development in the Philippines.

– Maya Hagiwara

Maya is based in Tokyo, Japan and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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K-Pop Fandoms in Southeast Asia and Public Health

K-Pop Fandoms in Southeast AsiaAcross the globe, youth voter turnout has been steadily declining in comparison to previous generations, but not because Gen Z has grown apathetic. Researchers increasingly argue that younger generations are not disengaging from politics so much as rerouting collective energy away from traditional channels and into alternative forms of advocacy.

K-Pop Fandoms in Southeast Asia

Nowhere has this shift been more visible than in the recent mobilization efforts of certain K-pop fandoms in Southeast Asia. BTS, a South Korean boy group whose global rise effectively ignited the modern K-pop fandom era, commands one of the most organizationally sophisticated fan bases worldwide. In Indonesia alone, the group amasses roughly 6 million self-identified ARMYs.

Since BTS’ meteoric surge in 2013, their fan communities have been labeled online as commercially manufactured obsessions, dismissed for their association with a toxic, image-policing idol culture. As idols struggled publicly with their mental health, these fandoms began recognizing that their substantial organizational power could help mobilize resources for change without requiring institutional leeway. Their initiatives increasingly support low-income communities across the region, where poverty and limited access to mental health services often reinforce one another. In Indonesia and the Philippines, where millions still live below national poverty lines, fan-led initiatives have evolved into grassroots forms of both public health advocacy and poverty alleviation.

From Fandom to First Responders

When the Kanjuruhan Stadium tragedy killed at least 125 people in Malang, East Java, in October 2022, fans mobilized faster than most formal relief structures. Using the Kita Bisa crowdfunding platform, Indonesian ARMY raised more than Rp 447 million, approximately $29,000, in just over a day, surpassing their initial fundraising goal of Rp 75 million nearly six times over. Funds were then directed to victims’ families as business capital for those who lost their household providers and as educational support for children left behind.

The initiative directly assisted low-income households suddenly deprived of income earners and helped reduce the risk of families falling deeper into poverty. It was not the first mobilization of this kind. Indonesian ARMY had previously organized food aid for motorcycle taxi drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, many of whom experienced severe financial hardship due to lockdown measures and reduced demand for work.

Fandom for Change

In the Philippines, K-pop fandom philanthropy has moved beyond spontaneous fundraising into something more institutional. World Vision Philippines, the Philippine branch of the international humanitarian organization established in 1957 and operating in nearly 100 countries, launched Fandom for Change, a platform that enables fans to donate directly in the name of their favorite artists, channeling enthusiasm into support for children’s education, health, nutrition, clean water access and disaster relief.

BTS ARMY Philippines has been among its most active participants. Following Typhoon Rolly in 2020, Filipino ARMYs organized relief efforts for affected communities and later launched a fundraising campaign tied to BTS’s ninth anniversary in partnership with World Vision. A separate fandom alliance donating in actor Ji Chang Wook’s name contributed half a million pesos, equivalent to approximately $28,500, toward FAITH Garden Kits for pandemic-affected families. The kits provided low-income households with vegetable seedlings and resources to supplement food supplies and generate additional income. The platform simply formalized what fans were already doing organically, giving a structured, measurable outlet to their collective energy.

These efforts demonstrate how such fan communities are increasingly also functioning as grassroots anti-poverty actors, directing resources toward vulnerable communities through highly responsive networks.

The Ripple Effect Across the Region

At the root of much of this fandom-driven public health action is BTS’s own decade-long engagement with mental health advocacy. In November 2017, BTS launched the Love Myself campaign in partnership with UNICEF, built around the principle that self-love is the foundation of well-being. Since then, the campaign has raised nearly $3 million globally for UNICEF’s child protection and mental health programs, generating almost 5 million tweets and more than 50 million social media engagements worldwide.

In April 2024, marking the campaign’s sixth anniversary, UNICEF renewed its collaboration with BTS to support the #OnMyMind initiative, focused specifically on the mental health of children and young people. Across Southeast Asia, where fan communities first witnessed their idols openly discuss burnout from industry pressure, that messaging translated into fan-led awareness campaigns extending well beyond streaming charts.

A New Model of Grassroots Health Advocacy

Popular culture has always shaped how societies talk about what matters, but rarely has it moved people to act at this scale. What K-pop fandoms demonstrate is that personal attachment to a figure generates a quality of motivation that policy campaigns and public health messaging rarely achieve on their own.

This matters enormously in a region where, according to ASEAN Magazine, nearly 90% of people living with mental health conditions receive no formal care. Mental health stigma remains highly prevalent due to cultural norms that discourage discussing psychological distress and seeking professional help. The consequences are particularly severe for low-income populations, who often face additional financial and geographic barriers to accessing care.

The positive trickle-down effect of idol-driven mental health advocacy is quietly normalizing help-seeking among teenagers for whom these topics have long been taboo, reshaping norms at a societal level. In doing so, these K-Pop fandoms in Southeast Asia illustrate how digital fan communities can evolve into unexpected engines of both public health advocacy and poverty reduction.

– Estelle Aubry

Estelle is based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and focuses on Global Health, Politics for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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3 Organizations Fighting Heart Disease in the Philippines

Heart Disease in the PhilippinesOne of the Philippines’ most common crises includes heart diseases like heart failure, hypertensive heart disease and ischemic heart disease. Cardiovascular disease causes one-third of deaths in the Philippines. An example of its impact is during a 6-month period from January to July in 2023, where doctors recorded more than 65,000 ischemic heart disease cases, accounting for 19% of all deaths. This has weakened many Filipinos’ immune systems, making them highly vulnerable. While this remains a severe challenge in the Philippines, three organizations have stepped up to the cause and started fighting heart disease in the country.

The Connection Between Poverty and Heart Disease

The link between poverty and heart disease is striking. As of 2023, 15.5% of the Filipino population lives below the national poverty line. The causes of cardiovascular disease include the inability to afford proper living conditions, limited access to food and dirty water — all challenges that low-income Filipinos face daily. They also confront another difficult sacrifice: a normal heart failure hospitalization in a private hospital costs about ₱42,000, which exceeds 10% of the average Filipino’s annual salary. The nation covers only some of this cost, forcing Filipinos to choose between survival and a long treatment. Research from the University of the Philippines highlights a shortage of doctors relative to the population, and too many cardiovascular disease patients receive diagnoses far too late for quality treatment. Here is information about three organizations fighting heart disease in the Philippines.

1. Children’s Heart Foundation

The Children’s Heart Foundation stands among several organizations working to change the lives of people with heart disease. It works to address heart problems so that future generations experience fewer cardiovascular diseases, improving global health. Volunteers founded it in 2000 and launched it with a fundraiser for a single cardiovascular patient. Since then, it has evolved into a nonprofit organization that serves low-income Filipinos tirelessly. It provides quality medical care for free, stopping many heart diseases before they turn fatal. Partnering with the Philippines Heart Center, the foundation delivers financial aid to those who need it most. It also builds a network connecting young and old patients, creating valuable social opportunities.

2. Gift of Life International

Gift of Life International provides care to children suffering from heart disease in the Philippines. This international organization receives requests to aid certain countries, with the greatest need coming from Manila. It has built strong partnerships with local groups and have saved more than 7,000 Filipino children. Gift of Life International pursues four main goals: securing donations, helping people with cardiovascular disease across multiple nations, handling incoming requests and managing volunteer involvement in ongoing efforts. This organization sets a strong example for others on how to improve healthcare access in the Philippines.

3. The Philips Foundation

The Philips Foundation also tackles the challenge of diagnosing cardiovascular heart disease early so that patients avoid fatal consequences. It raises awareness about global health across communities in the Philippines. Its plan involves training 200 teachers to identify students with cardiovascular diseases, a strategy that could save many lives by allowing teachers to spot warning signs early and enable sooner treatment. Using techniques like handheld ultrasound screeners, the program reaches areas where no nearby medical facilities exist. In the future, this project could expand across the entire Philippines, inspiring further change in the fight against heart disease.

Looking Ahead

Certain organizations are driving real progress against heart disease in the Philippines. Through financial assistance, lifesaving surgery and innovative early detection tools, organizations like the Children’s Heart Foundation, Gift of Life International and the Philips Foundation are changing the numbers for heart disease patients in the Philippines. These efforts create safer and more equitable conditions for Filipinos and their future generations, proving that the fight against heart disease in the Philippines moves in the right direction.

– Brijesh Mohan

Brijesh is based in Kendall Park, NJ, USA and focuses on Global Health and Celebs for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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5 Things You Need to Know About Diabetes in the Philippines

Diabetes in the PhilippinesWith more people living sedentary lifestyles, having less healthy diets and obesity becoming more prevalent around the world, the threat of diabetes is more apparent than ever. This chronic disease affects millions of people globally, and those in low-income countries are especially vulnerable to its effects. The Philippines, in particular, has seen an increasing number of diabetes cases, with recent estimates reaching almost 5 million Filipino adults. Here are five crucial things to know about diabetes in the Philippines.

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes, or diabetes mellitus, is a chronic illness that affects the body’s ability to produce or effectively use insulin, a hormone that breaks down sugar in the blood so that the body can use it for energy. Without insulin, sugar cannot be broken down, leading to a buildup in the blood. Over time, elevated blood sugar levels can lead to serious and potentially fatal complications such as kidney failure, cardiac arrest, stroke, blindness and limb amputation.

In 2024, approximately 4.7 million adults in the Philippines were reported to have diabetes, increasing from 4.2 million in 2011. Almost 30,000 people have Type 1 diabetes, a third of whom are children. Concern over the prevalence of diabetes in the Philippines continues to grow as the number of adults with diabetes is expected to nearly double by 2050. In 2024 alone, diabetes contributed to the deaths of nearly 44,000 Filipinos, making it one of the top five causes of death in the country.

Culture and Diabetes in the Philippines

Food is an important aspect of Filipino culture, with many social events and celebrations centered around eating. However, certain eating habits common in the Philippines can increase the risk of diabetes. Many popular Filipino foods, such as adobo and lechon, tend to be high in refined carbohydrates, sodium, saturated fats, cholesterol and added sugar. Overconsumption of these types of food can increase the risk of developing diabetes by contributing to obesity, making the body more resistant to insulin and increasing blood sugar levels. Other factors such as a lack of physical activity, smoking, drinking alcohol and barriers to accessing medical care also contribute to the risk of diabetes in the Philippines.

Treatment Access

The ongoing treatment of diabetes and related health complications is expensive. On average, it costs the Philippines about $2 billion annually to address diabetes-related health concerns. With about 15.5%, or 17.5 million people in the Philippines living below the national poverty line, many cannot afford critical medical interventions such as glucose monitors and insulin injections. These financial barriers not only prevent people from treating their diabetes, but they also prevent people from getting diagnosed. In the Philippines, it is estimated that more than half of people with diabetes have not been diagnosed. Without a diagnosis, people living with diabetes cannot begin the process of getting life-saving treatment.

Organizations Helping to Address Diabetes in the Philippines

In response to the growing global concern about diabetes, several health initiatives have been created to provide treatment to those living with diabetes, including people in the Philippines. For example, the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Diabetes Compact was launched in 2021 to ensure that people with diabetes are diagnosed, have good control of their blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and receive affordable, quality treatment.

WHO has also collaborated with local community resources in the Philippines to help address diabetes-related issues in a few regions. The Healthy Hearts Programme helps people living with diabetes in the Philippines manage their illness by teaching them and their families about diabetes and providing medical treatment such as insulin and blood pressure monitors. The program has helped people such as 13-year-old Brielle Paulino manage his diabetes. Paulino lives with Type 1 diabetes and, thanks to the Healthy Hearts Programme, he is able to give himself insulin injections and monitor his blood sugar so that he can one day fulfill his dream of becoming a chef.

Looking Ahead

The increasing prevalence of diabetes in the Philippines raises concerns over the health and well-being of millions of people. With more people adopting sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets, it is crucial to bring awareness to this disease and how it can not only be treated but also prevented. Thanks to global initiatives, people in low-income countries living with diabetes have a better chance at living long, fulfilling lives.

– Lily Alexander

Lily is based in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Digital Education in Developing Countries

Digital Education in Developing CountriesAccording to the Global Education Monitoring Report, developing countries are home to some 200 million young people ages 15 to 24 who have not completed primary school and need alternative pathways to gain basic skills for employment and prosperity. Low levels of education leave one in eight living below the poverty line, creating a need for digital education in developing countries.

Developing countries often have less diversified economies that rely on agriculture or raw materials such as timber, coal and oil. A country’s level of development is not determined by one singular test, but does look at the total value of goods and services a country provides. Underdeveloped and developing countries have lower Gross National Income (GNI), lower life expectancy and higher unemployment.

Digital Education in Developing Countries

Education develops skills at both intellectual and social levels. It promotes progress in health, climate resilience, sustainability and gender equality. Without these skills, people are less able to avoid poverty and pursue ecological development.

In lower- and middle-income countries, more than half of all 10-year-olds are unable to read and understand text. In 2024, there were 251 million children out of school, limiting the skills needed for labor markets. By increasing funds and resources, digital education in developing countries can help promote learning and provide children with greater chances of acquiring the skills they need.

South Africa has seen similar trends, with children under age 17, who make up 43.1% of the country’s population, among the groups most affected by poverty. According to Statistics South Africa, children remained the most vulnerable group in the country, with nearly half still living below the poverty line in 2023. Children living in rural areas face even greater challenges, as they often lack internet access and other essential educational resources.

Education remains one of the strongest investments a country can make. Research shows that in developing countries, every dollar invested in education generates $10 to $15 in economic growth. Investing in education can drive a country’s growth, increasing earning potential and decreasing poverty. Protecting children’s right to education aids local communities, creating more opportunities to thrive while promoting an equal chance at success.

Digital education supports teaching and learning through online courses, virtual classrooms and applications. Not only does this provide basic education, but it also helps improve digital skills that have become necessary amid the world’s digitalization. Online learning platforms create flexibility, making education more accessible around the world.

Current Developing Countries’ Initiatives

In 2020, Malaysia introduced its Digital Educational Learning Initiative (DELIMa), an online platform students can use to access applications, communication tools and learning resources. Malaysia’s Ministry of Education created the initiative to make learning more accessible while supporting the country’s move toward a more technology-influenced society.

DELIMa provides two programs: Future Skills For All (FS4A) and Global Citizenship Education (GCED). FS4A promotes digital development and reduces education inequalities by engaging learners through social media. GCED strengthens and grows a 21st-century mindset, encouraging learners to engage with communities on a local and global level.

South Africa has also embraced online education, increasing enrollment by more than 50% from 2020 to 2022. One of the country’s leading online learning platforms, CambriLearn, is now an Independent Examinations Board (IEB)-registered online school whose accredited courses meet benchmarks accepted by other schools worldwide.

Koa Academy has also contributed to the rise in South African education enrollment. The Koa Foundation’s initiative aims to expand high-quality education for communities facing education inequality. The foundation works to close the gap in educational opportunity by providing personalized learning that supports each student’s individual needs, easing challenges in performance and future opportunities. Current programs have supported 932 learners in strengthening their skills in mathematics and science.

In the Philippines, education is widely seen as a foundation for improving socioeconomic status, with many families believing that finishing school widens future opportunities. However, challenges include rising tuition costs and declining performance. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), more than a third of Filipino students fall into the bottom international quintile of the socioeconomic scale, the largest such share among the groups measured.

Online schooling in the Philippines has become one of the most convenient and accessible forms of education, tailoring learning to individual students. Another challenge facing education in the country is low student retention. There is a dramatic decrease from 56.7% of children ages 10 to 14 finishing primary school to only 42.5% reaching junior high school and just 31.5% completing senior high school.

The Rise of Education Enrollment

As digital education in developing countries becomes more widely embraced, population growth and demand for education have both increased. By improving accessibility and affordability, online education now plays a crucial role in students’ schooling. Countries such as India, Iran and Pakistan have seen 7 million students enroll in online learning programs.

India alone has approximately 35% of its population enrolled in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), ranking behind only the United States in enrollment. E-schools provide greater opportunities for those seeking education and employment, expanding access and improving employment prospects for millions.

With 32% of the global population lacking internet connection, expanding digital access will allow more citizens to receive quality education. Regardless of country, online education can serve as a tool for giving students an equal chance at learning and success.

– Jacquelyn Orr

Jacquelyn is based in Philadelphia, PA, USA and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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Solar Bottle Entrepreneurs

Solar Bottle EntrepreneursMy Shelter Foundation is a Philippines-based organization that helps provide lighting to low-income families by using recycled plastic bottles as solar-powered light bulbs. Established in 2011, within 20 months of its launch, the company produced more than 350,000 bottled lights, with 150,000 of that figure benefiting households in the Philippines. This innovative project highlights how affordable solar lighting solutions can simultaneously combat poverty and reduce energy inequality.

This initiative focuses on the idea of using everyday materials found in poor neighbourhoods, allowing the bulbs to be constructed using simple skills. It is constructed by using a clear, plastic bottle filled with water and bleach. The bottle is then fitted securely into a hole in the roof, with part of it exposed to incoming sunlight outside. The water inside the bottle then refracts and disperses natural light below. This design can provide illumination equivalent to 50-60 watts, according to UNFCCC.

Alongside its clear environmental benefits, the Litre of Light campaign also plays a fundamental role in improving the quality of life in low-income communities.

Lowering Household Costs

The most significant impact of these improvised light sources is their ability to reduce household expenses. Currently, the average electric bill in the Philippines per month is ₱5,388 ($87.26). Yearly, this equates to a rough cost of $1,04. By providing affordable, energy-efficient lighting options, low-income families are able to reduce their electricity consumption and save money, often around an estimated average of $6 per month, according to UNFCCC.

Although this may seem like a small amount, it can make a significant difference for poorer households.

Families could redirect this money towards more essential needs, such as school supplies or transportation costs to schools, all of which contribute to improved educational outcomes.

Empowering Communities

Another less direct advantage of this project is that people can build it easily using only a few basic tools and materials. This means that people of all ages and skill sets can participate in assembling this energy product. Participants receive all the tools and materials they need to assemble the bulbs, as well as provide assistance with quality control during the first installations, according to UNFCCC.

This creates a strong community volunteer model that members can scale up effectively. This approach of large-scale implementation has already undergone tests with groups of up to 100 people, and in some cases as many as 300, helping to build hundreds of solar bottles in remote rural areas

The Future

The success of this initiative lies in its ability to contribute to poverty alleviation by creating new sources of income for low-income communities. This project has helped establish a market for solar bottle entrepreneurs, such as Mang Demi, enabling individuals with limited employment opportunities to build small businesses. Once unemployed and struggling to afford electricity bills despite having basic carpentry skills, Demi now earns up to $0.40 per installation, demonstrating how small-scale innovations can cultivate economic opportunities and relieve financial pressures, according to UNFCCC.

Ultimately, this simple innovation shows how small, accessible solutions can create meaningful change. By transforming everyday plastic bottles into a source of light, communities are not only lighting up their homes, but solar bottle entrepreneurs are also expanding opportunities to resist poverty.

– Sophia Lupo

Sophia is based in London, UK and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How Broadband Internet Reduces Rural Poverty in the Philippines

Rural Poverty in the PhilippinesIn the Philippines, geography has long stood between rural communities and the digital economy. Made up of more than 7,000 islands, the Philippines has had difficulty remaining fully connected in an increasingly digital world. However, recent investments and reforms across the country aim to alleviate this issue and, therefore, increase economic productivity.

Expanding broadband internet infrastructure is central to the Philippines’ poverty reduction strategy, with major projects targeting schools, health facilities and small businesses in often underserved, rural provinces and regions.

The Rural Connectivity Gap

Although the Philippines is largely online, large pockets of the rural provinces remain digitally isolated. In fact, roughly 28% of Filipino households had access to fixed broadband in 2023. For context, its neighbor Vietnam in the same year was at 79%, Thailand at 55% and Malaysia at 54%, according to the World Bank. 

The divide also widens by income. Between 2019 and 2022, internet penetration in the wealthiest quintile climbed from 43% to 60%, while in the underserved quintile it rose from 2% to 5%. The effects of this are felt across the daily lives of citizens. 

Some of the population that relies heavily on the internet, such as students, small online businesses and enterprises, struggle to access key communication tools and even digital public services. Roughly 18 to 19 million Filipinos remain offline, largely due to affordability and missing infrastructure. 

A $287 Million Push for Rural Broadband

In 2024, the World Bank approved $287 million for the Philippines Digital Infrastructure Project. This crucial funding thrusts forward the development of the country’s national fiber-optic backbone and middle-mile network. It is designed to connect rural schools, health facilities and other public institutions in regions such as Mindanao. One of the many aims is to incentivize operators to build last-mile links to households. 

The project is expected to expand broadband internet in the Philippines to more than 20 million people by 2028. 

The Konektadong Pinoy Act: Opening the Market

The Konektadong Pinoy Act, signed on August 24, 2025, streamlines the licensing process for new internet providers, supports the introduction of infrastructure sharing and establishes cybersecurity standards. Before this, providers faced roadblocks, including the need to secure congressional approval to operate. This became a barrier that made it almost impossible for remote communities to build their own networks, according to the Internet Society. 

Benjz Sevilla of the Internet Society Philippines Chapter noted that providers serving geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas can now register as Data Transmission Industry Participants. The law was passed with support from the government, industry, academia and civil society after years of multi-stakeholder advocacy. 

National Fiber Reaches the Provinces

The Department of Information and Communications Technology is building the National Fiber Backbone, a government-owned network that stretches from northern Luzon to southern Mindanao. By mid-2026, the third phase of the backbone will be completed, providing high-capacity bandwidth to local government units and lowering entry costs for smaller third-party providers. Telecommunications towers nationwide nearly doubled, from 17,850 in 2020 to more than 35,000 in 2023, expanding coverage in previously unreachable areas. 

Broadband Internet in the Philippines Is Already Changing Lives

By 2026, the World Bank projects that the share of Filipino households with fixed broadband will rise to 35%. It also predicted that the cost of a fixed broadband basket will fall from 11.3% to 8.5% of gross national income per capita. With sustained investment, smarter policy and growing rural demand, broadband internet in the Philippines is becoming a powerful engine for inclusive growth and poverty reduction. 

– Jamie Noone

Jamie is based in Dublin, Ireland and focuses on Good News and Technology for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr

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How the Philippine Red Cross Helps Typhoon Victims

How The Philippine Red Cross Helps Typhoon Victims In Nov. 2025, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) delivered medical aid to hundreds of families across the country that Typhoon Tino and Super Typhoon Uwan left devastated.

Philippine Red Cross

The Philippine Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that has existed since 1899 and has been officially active since 1947. Since its beginnings, PRC has been dedicated to supporting citizens who have endured tragic events and disasters across the Philippines. From emergency care to raising donations, PRC is committed to helping the vulnerable.

Following the destruction of Typhoon Tino and Super Typhoon Uwan, PRC delivered medical aid and support to thousands of victims in highly affected communities. Hundreds of staff and volunteers from PRC supplied families with emergency services such as first aid, disease prevention, welfare assistance, sanitation and more.

Typhoon Tino

Typhoon Kalmaegi, or Typhoon Tino, affected the country from Nov. 2 to Nov. 6. In just four days, it left a trail of destruction across eight regions. Islands in the Visayas were among the most highly affected areas. As of Nov. 11, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported about:

  •  232 deaths
  •  112 missing
  •  523 injured
  •  1.2 million families affected
  • 5.4 million individuals affected
  • 270,000 damaged homes
  • 42,000 destroyed homes

Cebu was the most affected area, recording many casualties due to severe, abundant flooding, landslides and vigorous winds. The storm left hundreds of thousands of families displaced after homes and farms were ruined.

On Nov. 4, following Typhoon Tino, PRC delivered health services to the highest affected areas through first aid stations to assist the sick and injured. The organization held disease prevention and hygiene promotion sessions for 620 people, raising awareness to protect the health of citizens. PRC also responded to an emergency childbirth.

Aside from medical resources, PRC extended welfare support as it set up welfare desks to provide emotional and psychological first aid. Volunteers also provided 1,642 hot meals to families affected by Typhoon Tino.

The chairman and CEO of PRC, Richard Gordon, expressed his faith in PRC’s volunteers to help and support those affected by Typhoon Tino.

“Every person reached by our staff and volunteers is someone who is given hope and care in the midst of disaster,” Gordon shared. “The Philippine Red Cross remains committed to responding swiftly wherever there is a call for help.”

Typhoon Uwan

Just days after Typhoon Tino left the Philippines, Super Typhoon Fung-wong, or Uwan, hit Luzon from Nov. 8 to Nov. 10. The 16 regions affected included Catanduanes, Aurora and Isabela. NDRRMC reported about:

  •  33 deaths
  •  One missing individual
  • 52 injured
  •  2.1 million families affected
  •  7.6 million individuals affected
  •  1.5 million people evacuated
  •  270,000 damaged homes
  • 25,000 destroyed homes
  • 130 villages flooded

The destruction caused extreme flooding, intense wind and mudslides, leaving many people displaced and sheltering with loved ones or in evacuation centers.

Following the devastation from Super Typhoon Uwan, PRC gathered hundreds of volunteers to reach more victims through medical services such as first aid stations that treated hundreds of patients. The humanitarian organization sent out ambulances for medical transport and rescue operations. PRC assigned three doctors and 25 nurses to provide medical consultations, medicines and antibiotics for hundreds of people in several regions.

Volunteers transported more than 200 individuals to evacuation centers from hazardous zones. PRC also provided psychological support through welfare desks and distributed meals from food trucks, delivering 8,753 hot meals to affected families. PRC used radios to allow communication in distant areas without Wi-Fi or data.

To PRC staff and volunteers, Gordon shared his appreciation for their extensive labor and dedicated effort.

“People often think that our work is limited to handing out relief boxes, but we have been working non-stop preparing hot meals and holding meetings 24/7,” Gordon said. “Thanks to everyone’s sacrifices here, the PRC can truly be always first, always ready, and always there.”

Moving Forward

In the face of the life-threatening typhoons that devastated millions of people in November, PRC remained dedicated to immediate aid for communities in need across the Philippines. PRC reached Filipino victims in the areas most affected, despite rising water levels and powerful winds. Along with accommodating the health of hundreds of people, PRC supported the well-being of families who lost everything. The people of the Philippines faced disaster, loss and grief, but PRC’s humanitarian relief provided care and support during recovery.

– Caydie Tampac

Caydie is based in Las Vegas, NV, USA and focuses on Good News for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons