Malacañang on Sunday expressed confidence that the country’s economic gains will also benefit poor Filipinos in the long run.
The Palace issued a statement following the results of the Social Weather Stations survey, which showed an increase in the number of Filipinos who consider themselves as poor.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque expressed concern that poverty perception has increased from 44 percent of Filipinos in the second quarter of this year to 47 percent in the third quarter.
Roque, however, said that the number of food poor Filipinos actually decreased based on the results of the same survey, at 32 percent of Filipino families compared to March’s 35 percent.
“We’re still very much encouraged by the fact that the perception on food poor decreased,” Roque said.
“We take note of the Social Weather Stations September 23 to 27, 2017 survey showing 47 percent of families considered themselves poor/mahirap. We attribute the increase to inflation which registered 3.4 percent in September, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. It is also at this time that the peso depreciated which contributed to the increased prices of goods,” said Roque.
“We hope that the gains of unprecedented economic gain natin will soon translate to more economic gains for the poor,” he added.
In a report by the Philippine Statistics Authority last November, the country’s economy grew by 6.9 percent in the third quarter of this year, which is considered higher than a market consensus of 6.6 percent.
“While we are concerned with the increase in self-rated poverty, we are encouraged by the decrease of families rating their food as mahirap /poor which stands at 32 percent in September 2017, lower than the previous administration’s average of 35 percent in 2015,” said Roque.
“It is for this reason that, while the administration is building a strong and sustainable domestic economy, growth must be inclusive and must be translated to a more comfortable life for all. We must ensure that the economy serves everyone and leaves no one behind by improving our social services, such as providing free college education, free medicine, free irrigation, socialized housing, conditional cash transfers, among others,” said Roque.