MANILA — Malacañang on Saturday welcomed a survey report showing that one out of three Filipino families have escaped poverty and vowed to continue its anti-poverty programs until all Filipinos live comfortably.
The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, conducted from March 23 to 27, showed that 30 percent of Filipinos escaped poverty (18 percent usually non-poor, 12 percent newly non-poor).
It also showed that the 30 percent who transitioned out of poverty consists of 18 percent, who used to be poor five or more years ago (“usually non-poor”), and 12 percent, who used to be poor one to four years ago (“newly non-poor”).
“We welcome the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) report showing one out of three, or 30 percent, of Filipino families escaped poverty,” Roque said in a briefing in Davao City.
“The Duterte administration, as we all know, has espoused inclusive, sustainable and resilient growth,” he added.
Roque pointed out that the government has so far broadened access to free education, medicine and healthcare and other basic services.
This way, Roque said that people directly benefit from the country’s economic gains.
Moreover, he said that the government’s conditional cash transfer programs and employment facilitation and micro-enterprise projects have also helped reduce the vulnerability of families.
The Presidential spokesperson, meanwhile, said that the government would continue the fight to alleviate poverty and provide more jobs to more Filipinos.
“Rest assured that we will continue to reduce inequality, expand economic opportunities, and lay down the foundation of a comfortable life for everyone,” Roque said.
Davao’s economic growth lauded
Roque also lauded a Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report, which showed that the Davao region ranked as the second fastest growing region in the country as it grew by 10.9 percent in 2017.
Citing the report, Roque said that this figure was backed by the positive growth of the Industry sector and by Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry and Fishing (AHFF) sector.
AHFF registered a 1.7-percent growth, brought about by the 1.9 percentage recovery of the Agriculture and Forestry subsectors.
Roque said industry grew by 19.1 percent in 2017, led by the expansion of the Construction (38.2 percent) and Manufacturing (11.4 percent) sub-sectors.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to accelerate the country’s growth within the seven to eight percent range this year.
“We are hopeful that this target can be achieved through the full implementation of the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Act, and the Build, Build, Build program that is expected to continue the growth momentum by inviting more investments, generating more jobs and delivering public services,” Roque said. (PNA)
