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January 20, 2002, AFP, Philippines economy needs 6-8 percent growth to reduce poverty: Ramos,

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January 20, 2002, AFP, Philippines economy needs 6-8 percent growth to reduce poverty: Ramos,

MANILA, Jan 20 (AFP) -

The Philippines economy must grow by at least six percent annually over the next decade to reduce widespread poverty, former president Fidel Ramos said Sunday.

Higher gross domestic product (GDP) growth would compensate for the mainly Roman Catholic southeast Asian nation's robust birth rate, Ramos told reporters.

More than 31 million Filipinos -- 40 percent of the population -- earn less than 75 US cents daily.

Philippine GDP was estimated to have grown by 3.3 percent last year, just a shade above the annual population growth rate.

"The 6-8 percent GDP growth rate that we must achieve would take care of our very strong population growth rate of about 2.2 percent, thereby everybody will enjoy an increase in per capita income and a better quality of life," Ramos said.

Ramos was speaking on the first anniversary of a military-backed popular revolt that swept Joseph Estrada from power and installed Gloria Arroyo in his place.

"We must reduce and then eliminate poverty in about a decade from last year," said Ramos, who served as president from 1992 to 1998.

Arroyo also pledged Sunday to achieve the poverty reduction target. She said she was pursuing economic policies that would lead to job creation.

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