Geographical features and the corruption of institutions are the main factors that determine the extreme poverty found in the Philippines, according to Luis Ravina, principal investigator of the Navarra Center for International Development at the University of Navarra. This expert recently visited the country because he is leading the research on poverty and development at the Institute for Culture and Society. He presented his work to hundreds of persons in Valencia on November 14. His stay in the Philippines just happened to coincide with Typhoon  Haiyan.  
‘The Geographic situation is one of the factors that determine the extreme poverty in Philippines. There are anywhere from 15 to 20 typhoons a year. In addition, there are more than 4000 islands which make up the Philippines, and this creates a large degree of isolation. Building infrastructures and transportation systems is a job that only the richest countries of the world can carry out", explained Luis Ravina.  
Professor Ravina also said that "corruption is the cancer of development because it does not allow a proper allocation of resources" and that in this Asian country, corruption is an everyday occurrence.  
"Even now, in the 21th century –he explained-, the votes of the citizens are easily bought. If the price of the votes decreases, this means that the government is not effective in its anti-corruption measures; if the price goes up, this means that the governmental measures are effective, thereby resulting in higher prices.

‘Eradicate Extreme Poverty through Science'

Nevertheless, professor Ravina said he is hopeful with regard to the country's future, especially due to the fact that there are many women who move to the Middle East, Hong Kong and other Asian countries to work, thereby producing the highest revenue for their own country. He also noted that many companies are beginning to locate their call centers (telephone customer service) in the Philippines, sending this country on its way to replacing India as the "number one" in this regard.

"Studies have shown that if the economic remittances from workers abroad were put towards education, this measure would help foster development. However, if this money is only put towards consumption, there will be no long-term benefits. Education and health are the keys to coming out of poverty", explained the professor.
Luis Ravina traveled to the Philippines in order to make close contact with the country, and based on his research, be able to make proposals that will help eradicate extreme poverty. Some of the issues that his team is focusing on include: corruption, business innovation and monetary stability.