SPEAKER Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday welcomed the latest decline in self-rated poverty of OCTA Research, saying the efforts of the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. in addressing poverty through a whole-of-government approach is slowly bearing fruit.
Speaker Romualdez lauded the Marcos administration for the latest Tugon ng Masa (TNM) survey results from OCTA Research, which showed a significant decrease in self-rated poverty and hunger levels during the third quarter of 2024.
“The reforms and programs being implemented by President Marcos Jr.’s administration are now bearing fruit. The latest survey shows that over a million Filipino families no longer consider themselves poor, which can only mean one thing: the Marcos administration is succeeding in its mission to reduce poverty,” Speaker Romualdez said.
“Atin pong ikinagagalak ang magandang balitang ito. Hindi po nasasayang ang ating pagsisikap na mai-ahon ang ating mga kababayan sa Bagong Pilipinas campaign ng ating mahal na pangulo,” the leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives said.
The OCTA Research survey, conducted from Aug. 28 to Sept. 2, 2024, revealed a 5-percentage point drop in self-rated poverty, with an estimated 1.4 million Filipino families now considering themselves “not poor.”
Additionally, self-rated hunger also fell from 16% to 11%, meaning approximately 1.3 million families no longer experience hunger.
“Despite the global challenges brought about by conflicts and supply chain disruptions, our administration continues to prioritize the welfare of the people, especially the marginalized,” Speaker Romualdez said.
“Nakikita na natin ang resulta ng mga programa ng Pangulong Marcos, at ito ay nagbibigay ng pag-asa sa mas maraming pamilyang Pilipino,” he added.
Speaker Romualdez emphasized the Marcos administration’s targeted support programs, including food assistance and social safety nets, have been instrumental in lifting Filipino families out of poverty.
He highlighted the government’s focus on ensuring that no Filipino is left behind, especially during these trying times.
“President Marcos has been consistent in his vision of building a resilient economy, one that is capable of withstanding the pressures of international disruptions. Through the administration’s interventions, we are seeing the positive impact on the lives of ordinary Filipinos,” Speaker Romualdez explained.
“Dito sa Kongreso, patuloy nating susuportahan ang mga pagsisikap ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Marcos sa pamamagitan ng pagpapasa ng mga panukalang magsusulong ng economic growth at dagdag social protection sa ating mga kababayan,” he added.
Speaker Romualdez also commended the administration’s approach to addressing food insecurity, which has led to the significant reduction in self-rated hunger.
He noted that the success of these programs should inspire continued support from both the public and private sectors.
“As we move forward, it is essential for everyone – government, private sector and civil society – to work hand in hand to sustain the momentum of our economic recovery. Dapat nating tiyakin na mas maraming pamilya ang makikinabang sa pag-unlad ng ating ekonomiya,” Speaker Romualdez said.
“Tuluy-tuloy ang suporta ng Kongreso sa mga polisiya at programa na makakatulong sa ating mga kababayan. We are committed to ensuring that the Marcos administration’s vision of a more equitable and prosperous Philippines becomes a reality,” he further stated.
“We have started to see the positive changes, but this is only the beginning. With sustained efforts, we can further reduce poverty and provide more opportunities for our people to thrive.”
