MANILA – The Malacañang assured the public that the present government would bring “comfortable life” for all Filipinos.
The remark was made after the Social Weather Stations (SWS) reported that more Filipinos have escaped poverty.
“The Duterte administration, as we all know, has espoused inclusive, sustainable and resilient growth,” said presidential spokesman Harry Roque.
“We have broadened access to free education, medicine and healthcare and other basic services to ensure that our people directly benefit from the country’s economic gains while reducing the vulnerability of families through our conditional cash transfer programs and employment facilitation and microenterprise projects,” the official added.
The SWS poll, conducted from March 23 to 27, said that 30 percent of Filipino families have been taken out of poverty.
“The 30 percent who transitioned out of poverty consists of 18 percent who used to be poor five or more years ago (“usually non-poor”), and 12 percent who used to be poor 1 to 4 years ago (“newly non-poor”). This is 2 points lower than the record-high 14 percent newly non-poor recorded in December 2017,” the statement read.
The survey, with 1,200 respondents, also found that 58 percent of families considered themselves “non-poor,” while 42 percent said they were “poor.”
“We will continue to reduce inequality, expand economic opportunities, and lay down the foundation of a comfortable life for everyone,” Roque said./PN
