Charles Teves
On Monday, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that 2.3 million Filipinos fell into poverty between 2018 and 2021, mainly due to the pandemic.
In 2021, the number of poor people shot up to 20 million or 18.1% of the population from 16.7% in 2018, going over the 15.5%-17.5% target of the government.
Pres. Ferdinand Marcos Jr. seeks to lower the poverty rate to 9% by the end of his term in 2028, which Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said is possible despite soaring inflation.
The government will target the reopening of the economy, investing in human capital and social protection, and transforming production sectors to generate more quality jobs and competitive products.
“We can reduce poverty incidence by 5 percentage points at midterm, and another 4 percentage points by 2028,” Balisacan said during a media briefing.
He added that in 2018, the Philippines was able to lift 6 million Filipinos out of poverty, but the pandemic disrupted it, which resulted in households having less access to jobs.
Netizens blamed the Duterte administration for the alarming rate of poverty currently encumbering the government.
https://twitter.com/daegulipz/status/1559191359315030017?s=20&t=nYWyIFtNeqPloPdkVjk4Ug
As early as 4Q2020, Mon Casiple was also asking the same thing. Amidst record high hunger / poverty rate (SWS), how did Duterte manage to have 92% trust / approval rating (PulseAsia)? The math doesn't add up. Duterte's fake surveys don't square with realities on the ground. https://t.co/GP1aY0MN3l
— Senzaltro Otravia (@SOtravia) August 15, 2022
Du30 Legacy https://t.co/y8bRxUjtpg
— Aleck G. ☜ (@ALECKyou) August 17, 2022
Galing-galing talaga ni Tatay. https://t.co/aruifOQ1f6
— Reject the Illegitimate Marcos Regime! (@Pulahan14) August 15, 2022
Awiiit https://t.co/uhRG1TW2dx
— James Banaag (@dearscarjames) August 15, 2022
Pumatay na nga ng libo-libong mahihirap, pinadami pa ang mahihirap. #DuterteLegacy https://t.co/NihIUrTOEo
— Kej Andrés #JoinSCMP bit.ly/JoinSCMP (@TheKejOfGlory) August 15, 2022
Duterte legacy. Lubog na lubog ang pinas. Mas dumami ang gutom na pilipino mga ulul https://t.co/2ZwBBUZP0h
— ex dds (@dds_ex) August 15, 2022
Duterte is the only President that left office with poverty worse than when he came into office. The only President post war. Imagine that's how bad that guy was for this country. The damage to our cultural and moral fiber is unimaginable
— JP Alipio (@JPAlipio) August 15, 2022
https://twitter.com/johnnytamad/status/1559361857932038148?s=20&t=nYWyIFtNeqPloPdkVjk4Ug
The poverty threshold is the minimum income needed to meet the basic food and nonfood needs, including clothing, fuel, light and water, housing, transportation and communication, and health and education expenses.
“The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including income and employment losses, caused the poverty incidence to rise. Restrictions on mobility and low earning capacity of poor households due to limited access to regular and productive jobs made the lives of Filipinos difficult,” said Balisacan.
Also on Monday, Sen. Grace Poe said employment opportunities should also be a priority. “Social protection programs and services must effectively reach and empower them,” she noted.
She said public drivers should be allowed to drive their usual routes “as they have waited for too long without income.”
“The commuters need them, especially the millions of students who will return to schools next week,” she stressed.
The Philippines also has one of the worst unemployment rates in Asia, which amounts to 2.99 million Filipinos.
