SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Tuesday welcomed the very recent survey showing a notable decrease in self-rated poverty and hunger among Filipino families as he attributed the sharp decline to the anti-poverty programs of the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.,
including Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) and the initiatives he led, such as Cash and Rice Distributions (CARD) and other related programs.
Speaker Romualdez lauded the recent findings of OCTA Research indicating a decrease of 3% in both the number of families who consider themselves poor and their self-rated hunger, from 45% in the 4th quarter of 2023 to 42% during the 1st quarter of 2024, and from 14% to 11% during the same period, respectively.
“It is heartening to see that the number of families considering themselves poor has dropped to 42%, down from 45% in the previous quarter. Similarly, self-rated hunger has decreased to 11% from 14% in the same period,” said Romualdez, the leader of the 300-plus-member House of Representatives.
“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,” the House leader noted.
Speaker Romualdez attributes the sharp decline to President Marcos Jr.’s economic programs and his administration’s anti-poverty efforts, which he said the House of Representatives strongly supports.
These include the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation, the DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers(TUPAD), and other programs such as free college education, free health insurance, and the grant of direct cash subsidies.
“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. The decrease in the number of families who consider themselves food-poor – from 42% to 37% – further attests to the success of our food security programs,” Speaker Romualdez said.
The Speaker 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).
Speaker Romualdez said BPSF, which just concluded its 15th installment in Benguet province, is realizing President Marcos Jr.’s desire to bring government services closer to the people, including food, financial, and livelihood assistance to all 82 provinces across the country.
“The BPSF has already rolled out billions of pesos of government aid and services to 15 provinces. We are so pleased to see that this program has an impact on the lives of Filipino families. May we see the further decline of self-rated poverty and hunger in the future,” the lawmaker from Leyte said.
The CARD Program in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which earned Speaker Romualdez the moniker “Mr. Rice,” continues to provide hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries with rice and cash assistance, with each beneficiary from vulnerable sectors receiving a 25-kilogram sack of rice and cash to help in everyday life.
The same goes for SIBOL and FARM. Also an innovation of the House with Romualdez as the leading proponent in partnership with the Marcos administration, which aims to help small entrepreneurs and farmers cope with the struggles of their respective livelihood areas by granting them cash aid to jumpstart their small businesses and farms.
He also disclosed the existence of the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) under DSWD, which 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.
“Lahat po ng ito ay bilang suporta ng ating Kongreso sa mga programa ng ating mahal na Pangulong Marcos Jr. Makakaasa po tayo na ipagpapatuloy nating mag-isip ng mas maraming programa at ayuda para sa mga kababayan nating nangangailangan,” Speaker Romualdez said.
Back to the OCTA Research survey, Speaker
Romualdez also 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.
He said these signal that the efforts of both the administration of President Marcos and the House of Representatives to control inflation and increase household income are bearing fruit.
“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,” Speaker Romualdez said.
“While we celebrate these achievements, we also acknowledge that much work still needs to be done. We will continue to strengthen our social programs, enhance economic opportunities, and ensure that the growth we are fostering is felt by every Filipino family across our nation,” he added.
“Together, we are making significant strides towards a poverty-free Philippines. Let us continue to support one another and work collectively to build a brighter and more prosperous future for all.”
