The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said all 18 regions in the country recorded significant decrease in poverty incidence among families between 2023 to 2025.
The updated results of the 2025 full year official poverty statistics based on the preliminary results of the Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) showed that the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao recorded the most notable improvement, as its poverty incidence dropped from 26 percent to 12.8 percent.
The National Capital Region, meanwhile, remained the least poor among the regions with poverty incidence among families of 0.6 percent in 2025.
In contrast, the Bicol Region recorded the highest poverty incidence among families at 16.8 percent.
Preliminary results of the FIES released by the PSA on Aug. 21 showed that the country recorded its lowest-ever poverty incidence of 9.7 percent in 2025.
This means that the single-digit target under the Philippine Development Plan was already achieved three years ahead of schedule.
The latest data shows that 6.5 million Filipinos were lifted out of poverty between 2023 and 2025.
The number of Filipinos living below the poverty threshold likewise fell from 17.5 million in 2023 to 11 million in 2025.
Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) earlier said the government’s social assistance programs such as the 4Ps and social pension, helped bring down the number of poor Filipinos.
To further bring down the poverty incidence especially in some areas in Mindanao, DEPDev Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillon said the government will ramp up the implementation of the Trabaho Para sa Bayan plan.
“Ginawa naming komprehensibo na plano ito, na kasama dito iyong kailangan siguraduhin ng LGU kunwari iyong ease of doing business, maayos iyong infrastructure nila para makapag-attract sila ng investments. Kasi itong investments na ito ang magdadala ng trabaho,” Edillon said during an interview at Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon. (PNA)
