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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Palace hopeful PH can attain upper middle-income status

Palace hopeful PH can attain upper middle-income status

Published Aug 20, 2025 02:50 pm
Malacañang remains hopeful that the Philippines would be able to attain the upper middle income threshold this year.
Palace Press Officer and PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro (Betheena Unite)
Palace Press Officer and PCO Undersecretary Claire Castro (Betheena Unite)
The country is just $26 away from reaching the upper middle-income country (UMIC) status, according to Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.
"Of course masaya po ang Palasyo dahil nakikita po natin ang pagtatrabaho ng administrasyon para po mapaganda ang ating ekonomiya (Of course, the Palace is pleased because we can see the administration’s efforts to improve our economy)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Wednesday, Aug. 20.
"At ang sabi nga rin po ni Secretary Balisacan ay 26 dollars na lamang po ang kulang at hoping po na nito pong taon na ito, 2025 ay maa-attain na po natin ito (And as Secretary Balisacan also said, we are only short by 26 dollars, and he is hopeful that this year, 2025, we will be able to attain it)," Castro added.
The Palace official said to "wait and see" by 2026 if the country would be able to achieve the status.
"Pero malalaman po natin ito sa July 2026. So, tingnan na lang po natin (Although we will only know by July 2026. So, let’s just wait and see)," the Palace official further said.

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upper-middle-income country (UMIC) status Claire Castro Arsenio M. Balisacan
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