Most Filipinos consider themselves poor

EDITORIAL

At least 11.6 million Filipino families considered themselves poor according to the fourth quarter 2018 survey by polling agency Social Weather Station (SWS).

The survey said around 50 per cent of the respondents believed they are poor. This is a 2-point decrease from the 52 per cent (est 12.2 million) who said they are poor in September 2018.

Malacañang hailed the survey’s result and expressed hope that more Filipinos would continue to feel “more comfort this year”.

“With the President’s tireless efforts in addressing and taming the inflationary effects of the prices of basic goods and commodities, we remain optimistic that many Filipino families would continue to feel more comfort this year”, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said.

Despite the “positive development,” Malacañang recognizes that poverty among Filipinos is “still high.”

“The country must sustain high economic growth that creates many jobs and reduce prices and inflation to eradicate poverty”, Panelo added.

President Duterte signed Executive Order No. 5 in October 2016 providing for the adoption of “Ambisyon Natin 2040“, a long-term vision for development planning. Under the 25-year vision, the government will aim to “triple real per capita incomes and eradicate hunger and poverty by 2040, if not sooner.”