Speaker Martin Romualdez on Tuesday welcomed the very recent survey showing a notable decrease in self-rated poverty and hunger among Filipino families, which he attributed to the pro-poor initiatives of President Marcos.
Romualdez said the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) caravans, Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) projects, and other continuing state-funded measures such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) contributed significantly in terms of improving the lives of Filipinos.
The House Speaker welcomed the recent findings of OCTA Research, indicating a decrease of three percent in both the number of families, who consider themselves poor and their self-rated hunger.
Latest numbers dropped from 45 percent in the 4th quarter of 2023 to 42 percent during the 1st quarter of 2024, and from 14 percent to 11 percent during the same period, respectively.
“These figures represent a decline of approximately 800,000 families in both categories, a clear indication that our economic measures are effectively reaching and improving the lives of our people,” Romualdez noted.
The House Speaker added that “this positive trajectory in reducing poverty and hunger underscores the impact of our targeted policies aimed at enhancing economic stability and providing necessary support to the most vulnerable sectors.”
Romualdez also highlighted the efforts of the House of Representatives, in collaboration with national government agencies, to complement the President’s programs such as the BPSF, CARD Program, the Start-up, Investment, Business Opportunity and Livelihood (SIBOL), and the Farmers Assistance for Recovery and Modernization (FARM).
He said BPSF, which just concluded its 15th installment in Benguet province, is realizing President Marcos’ desire to bring government services closer to the people, including food, financial, and livelihood assistance to all 82 provinces across the country.
Romualdez also disclosed the existence of the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) under the Department of Social Welfare Development (DSWD) is included in the 2024 national budget and will benefit 12 million poor and low-income families—or a total of 48 million Filipinos—by receiving a one-time financial grant of P5,000.
Back to the OCTA Research survey, Romualdez noted that the median amount families consider necessary for monthly home expenses remains steady at P20,000, while the additional amount needed to rise above poverty has decreased from P7,000 to P5,000.
“These improvements in self-rated poverty and hunger are more than statistics—they represent real gains in the everyday lives of our kababayans. Each percentage point decrease reflects thousands of families who now have better access to necessities and a more hopeful outlook on their future,” Romualdez said.