House Speaker Martin Romualdez has described as a "breakthrough in the fight against poverty" the sharp drop in self-rated poverty and food insecurity among Filipinos .
“The numbers tell a powerful story of progress. More than 2.1 million Filipino families no longer consider themselves poor," Romualdez, Leyte's 1st district congressman, said in a statement over the weekend.
The House leader was referring to the results of the latest Tugon ng Masa (TNM) Survey conducted by OCTA Research.
"That’s not just a statistic—it’s a breakthrough in the fight against poverty. It’s a signal that our programs are working, and the nation is moving forward,” Romualdez said, adding that President Marcos' socioeconomic agenda is taking root and changing lives.
According to the April 2025 TNM Survey results, only 42 percent of Filipino families now consider themselves poor—down from 50 percent just five months ago. Food poverty also dropped dramatically from 49 percent to 35 percent, translating to about 3.7 million fewer families who feel they cannot afford proper meals.
“These are real and measurable gains. From livelihood assistance to food security, from cash transfers to job generation—this administration is delivering on its promise to uplift lives,” underscored the Speaker.
While the hunger rate at 13 percent remains statistically similar to the previous quarter, Romualdez noted that nearly 792,000 fewer families reported experiencing involuntary hunger.
“That’s almost 800,000 Filipino households with better access to food than just a few months ago. That matters. That gives us hope,” Romualdez said.
The Speaker also called on government agencies, local government units (LGUs), and lawmakers to sustain the momentum. “This is proof that the Bagong Pilipinas vision of President Marcos is not just aspirational—it is attainable. But we must keep pushing.”
He also urged the public to discern narratives meant to discredit progress. “Let’s focus on the facts. Let’s build on what’s working. And let’s reject the noise of baseless negativity.”