Calderón: It's Time for Profound Change
 The News
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November 12, 2009
 |  | We have to halt... extreme poverty from expanding and accelerate the steps to revert it.
- President Felipe Calderón |  | | |
President Felipe Calderón on this week called on lawmakers to take measures next year in order to curb extreme poverty as the country recuperates from an economic crisis.
Speaking at the Annual Meeting of the Mexican Center for Philanthropy, "Solidarity today: everyone's responsibility," Calderón said that now is the time for profound changes and each person must "do his part" to transform the country.
Although the resources are insufficient, he said, they must be used for basic needs. "We have to halt... extreme poverty from expanding and accelerate the steps to revert it."
"It would be irresponsible," he added, "not supportive, and consequently, I would say inhumane, if we don't take charge as a society of a problem that has been exacerbated due to a crisis that, although not created in Mexico, the entire country is suffering."
"I'm respectfully calling on lawmakers from all parties so that in 2010 they efficiently, fairly, equally and supportively allocate the available funding," Calderón said.
If funding is scarce, he continued, it should be used for programs that have proven to operate efficient, particularly Oportunidades (Opportunities), a program to stave off extreme poverty and improve education, health, nutrition and income, and Seguro Popular, a low-cost health insurance program for poor, uninsured people.
Oportunidades, the President explained, lowered poverty from 35 percent to 15 percent in one decade.
However, the recession and increases in the cost of food have raised the number of people receiving help under Oportunidades, to 30 million.
Calderón said that his administration will use all of its resources within reach to pay the social debt it has with low-income families.
The president also promised that by the end of his term in 2012, Mexico will have universal healthcare.
Even with obstacles, the goal is still achievable, Calderón said; not a single Mexican will lack access to a doctor, medicine and hospital care, if necessary. |
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Editorials | Issues | November 2009 
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