PBBM’s anti-poverty efforts lauded as self-rated poverty, hunger drop

Manila: Speaker Martin Romualdez on Wednesday attributed the decline in self-rated poverty and hunger in the country to the anti-poverty programs of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. In a news release, Romualdez particularly cited the government's "whole-of-government" approach to poverty reduction, noting that it is starting to yield results. The latest Tugon ng Masa (TNM) survey results from OCTA Research showed a 5-percentage point drop for both self-rated poverty and self-rated hunger in the third quarter of this year. 'The reforms and programs being implemented by President Marcos Jr.'s administration are now bearing fruit. The latest survey shows that over a million Filipino families no longer consider themselves poor, which can only mean one thing: the Marcos administration is succeeding in its mission to reduce poverty,' Romualdez said. The survey showed self-rated poverty declined to 43 percent, or around 11.3 million Filipino families, in the third quarter, compared to 48 percent in the previous quarter. This improvement translates to about 1.4 million Filipino families now identifying as "not poor." The survey also recorded a decline in self-rated hunger, falling from 16 percent to 11 percent, indicating that around 1.3 million families no longer experience hunger. 'Atin pong ikinagagalak ang magandang balitang ito. Hindi po nasasayang ang ating pagsisikap na mai-ahon ang ating mga kababayan sa Bagong Pilipinas campaign ng ating mahal na pangulo (We are pleased with this good news. Our efforts to uplift our fellow citizens under the President's Bagong Pilipinas campaign are not going to waste),' Romualdez said. Despite global challenges such as conflicts and supply chain disruptions, Romualdez emphasized that the government remains committed to prioritizing the welfare of Filipinos, especially the marginalized. 'Nakikita na natin ang resulta ng mga programa ng Pangulong Marcos, at ito ay nagbibigay ng pag-asa sa mas maraming pamilyang Pilipino (We are seeing the results of President Marcos' pro grams, and these give hope to more Filipino families),' he said. Romualdez said the administration's targeted support programs, such as food assistance initiatives and social safety nets, have played a key role in reducing poverty. He further highlighted the government's focus on ensuring that no Filipino is left behind, especially during these trying times. 'President Marcos has been consistent in his vision of building a resilient economy, one that is capable of withstanding the pressures of international disruptions. Through the administration's interventions, we are seeing the positive impact on the lives of ordinary Filipinos,' he said. Romualdez assured that the House of Representatives would continue supporting the government's efforts by passing legislation to promote economic growth and strengthen social protections. Romualdez also commended the government's efforts to address food insecurity, which he said contributed to the reduction in self-rated hunger. "As we move forward, it is essential for everyone -government, private sector, and civil society- to work hand in hand to sustain the momentum of our economic recovery. Dapat nating tiyakin na mas maraming pamilya ang makikinabang sa pag-unlad ng ating ekonomiya (We must ensure that more families benefit from the progress of our economy)," he said. Romualdez affirmed Congress' commitment to supporting the administration's policies and programs aimed at building a more equitable and prosperous Philippines. 'We have started to see the positive changes, but this is only the beginning. With sustained efforts, we can further reduce poverty and provide more opportunities for our people to thrive,' he said. Source: Philippines News Agency