Prices drive Zambo poor to begging

Marilou Abat, 26, who makes a living collecting recyclable materials, said her 3-year-old daughter and her 13-year-old son had learned to beg to help raise money for the family.

Eufemia (not her real name) said she became a part-time sex worker to support her family.

“If only food prices are not increasing, I will not do this,” she said.

Teodora Matias, 37, a retail storeowner in Barangay Baliwasan Chico and mother of four, said she asked her two daughters to accept laundry or nanny jobs.

“This is the worst situation and the very, very difficult situation we are in now forces women, mothers and their children to sacrifice further,” said Hadja Zenaida Lawi, executive director of the Muslimah Resource Center.