Under the 1993-1998 Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan, the overall goal is human development. For the majority of the Filipinos, this means the attainment of their most basic needs, such as being well nourished and free from avoidable diseases, being adequately sheltered and clothed, being educated, having resources sufficient to provide for the needs of the next generation, being physically safe, and being politically empowered to deal with one’s social circumstances.

The reduction and ultimate eradication of poverty, which is basically the inability to satisfy the above-mentioned needs, is the main task of human development. Hence, this takes priority in government’s plan of action.

 People in the state of poverty are, at the same time, experiencing social insecurity. They find themselves excluded, involuntarily for the most part, from participation in both economic and social activities.

This Monograph will analyze the current state of poverty in the Philippines and corresponding social insecurity that the poor experience. A separate section will discuss the prevailing system of social security, both in the micro and macro levels.

Hence, the different institutions concerned and the programs and services they offer shall be looked into. How social security is financed is the topic of the third section. Finally, the fourth section summarizes the main points and raises some recommendations for future action and policy consideration.