Philippine poverty

One Philippines, two worlds

March 1, 2023

The Marcos Jr administration is spinning a dark lie to give the impression that the situation of ordinary Filipinos is improving. The real and whole truth is that it isn’t and, if anything, has even gotten worse in the first few months of the new government.

Gov’t growth hype hides worsening situation of ordinary Filipinos — IBON

November 23, 2022

The finance secretary’s recent trumpeting of rapid growth is hype, and in reality the economy and the conditions of ordinary Filipinos have barely even returned to pre-pandemic levels.

PH upper middle income by end 2022?: Just a number – IBON

February 12, 2022

The “upper-middle income” country status that the Duterte government is hoping to achieve this year is just a number. Even if reached, this is an empty achievement amid the weakest economy and worst joblessness in decades and will just reflect the prosperity of an elite few.

On World Food Day: Widespread hunger justifies more ayuda

October 16, 2021

Hunger and food insecurity are worsening amid the ongoing pandemic crisis. More ayuda has to be immediately given to millions of poor and vulnerable families to ensure that everyone has economic access to food.

Ayuda urgently needed to mitigate worsening poverty

August 21, 2021

The government has just announced the transition from ECQ to modified ECQ so the economy can supposedly recover. But the Duterte administration’s over-reliance on destructive lockdowns without effective and substantial health and economic response, like much-needed ayuda, is what’s really worsening the crisis and pushing more Filipinos into poverty.

Almost upper-middle-income country?

July 25, 2021

The government claims that the Philippines is close to being an upper-middle-income country. Yet its use of the very low poverty threshold of only Php71 per person per day or Php10,756 per month excludes millions of Filipinos with little earnings from those counted as poor.