By Genalyn Kabiling
Poverty cannot be addressed overnight but the Duterte administration is committed to implement programs to bring a comfortable life for all, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo
(OPS / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said the government aims to lift one million Filipinos from poverty every year through the implementation of social protection measures.
Panelo made the remarks even after Social Weather Stations survey showed fewer Filipino families considered themselves poor in the past three months.
READ MORE: Fewer Filipinos consider themselves poor – SWS survey
"Bringing a comfortable life for all, with the objective of reducing poverty at a significant level, is the overarching socioeconomic goal of the Duterte Administration,” he said.
"Poverty, however, is a concern that cannot be addressed overnight and this Administration recognizes this fact. Hence, notwithstanding the latest survey showing favorable results, there is no denying that millions of families remain poor,” he added.
He said the economic managers have "intensified efforts and targeted to lift one million Filipinos from poverty every year."
To attain the poverty reduction goal, he said concerned government agencies have instituted social protection measures, including rice liberalization and institutionalization of cash transfers, to ensure that "no one is left behind."
"The Executive Branch will continue to implement medium to long-term programs to alleviate poverty, such as enhancing investments not only in infrastructure to address economic disparities in urban-rural areas but also investing in human capital, including ease of access to education and health, in order to make good the commitment of the President to deliver genuine and meaningful change to our society," he added.
In the SWS survey conducted last September, 42 percent of families or around 10.3 million households considered themselves poor.
The figure is lower than the 45 percent or around 11 million families recorded last June.
Panelo said the Office of the President has been apprised of the survey results, that included the drop in self-rated poverty among families.
"This September survey also disclosed that self-rated poverty declined in all geographic areas except in the Visayas. Metro Manila and Balance Luzon registered the biggest drops at 6%," he said.