May 13, 2024
Poverty represents a significant challenge for Puerto Rico, although public awareness of this issue seems to be lacking. For years, several organizations have conducted research and efforts to address this situation, but unfortunately poverty levels, especially among children, continue to rise. Although 2021 saw a temporary decrease in the child poverty rate to 55% due to economic stimuli related to the Covid-19 pandemic, by 2023 it had returned to a worrying average of 58%, a figure that has been in place since 2005.
It is clear that the problem lies in the lack of effective action on the part of public policies. There is no justification for poverty statistics to remain so high and for the government to take so long to implement concrete measures.
It is essential that the government and responsible institutions assume their duty with seriousness and commitment, ensuring that allocated resources are used effectively and that plans are implemented in a strategic, timely and efficient manner.
Child poverty not only affects children and their families in the present, but also has long-term consequences for Puerto Rico's development. Therefore, it is essential that this problem be prioritized and that the concrete and effective measures that have been promised for years be taken.
Another of the many major obstacles to reducing poverty are the barriers to employment faced by many families. Despite their desire to work, they are hindered by a variety of circumstances, such as: lack of access to adequate food, transportation, child care, flexible work schedules, job opportunities and fair wages. In addition, the perception that working could result in the loss of state benefits contributes to perpetuating this cycle of poverty.
Over the past four years, there has been an increased focus on the issue of poverty, and in 2021 the government finally took action on the issue. In May of that year, the governor signed an Executive Order to establish a Commission on Child Poverty, with the objective of evaluating previous research and recommending projects and initiatives to address this problem through public policies related to child poverty. The Governor states that, in order to counteract the impact of poverty, an amount of $4.4 billion per year must be invested in the long term. However, the Instituto del Desarrollo de la Juventud (IDJ) in its studies established that the cost of child poverty in PR is $4.4 billion per year. When analyzing the data, we see that this amount of investment would not help solve the problem. That study established recommendations and strategies for the long and short term, re-establishing that the investment should be at least 6.4 million
By the end of that same year, the Puerto Rico Public Policy Act was created to combat child poverty and social inequality. This law creates ANOTHER commission to "combat poverty", and establishes as goals that the reduction in the rate of child poverty by 50% by the end of the year 2032. With an expected reduction in child poverty to 70%. Within this law it was established that once it came into force, the commission had to deliver a strategic plan on how it was going to start fighting the problem. What happened? It was not until 2023 that this plan was delivered, to start implementing it in 2024.
In the government budget for fiscal year 2022-2023, $1.2 million dollars were allocated to the Child Poverty Program. However, as of January 20, 2023, the corresponding funds for that year had not yet been used. This is a clear example of the government's incompetence in combating this problem. The fact that two years have been lost in meeting the established goals is unacceptable. Much action could have occurred since then with the implementation of the program and funding. As we begin to implement the plan now in the year 2024, the question arises: Will the goals and strategies set forth actually be carried out? Is the government committed to improving the economic situation of the country or do they prefer to keep us in a state of poverty? A just government should make it a priority to completely eradicate this problem, as it will not only benefit the people now, but the country as a whole.
It is essential that the government prioritize poverty eradication and translate words into concrete actions and tangible results. Puerto Rico needs a real and sustained commitment to overcome this challenge. It is time to move from empty promises to action and results. The aid and funds are there, the commitment is lacking.
Puerto Rico needs concrete actions and results!