By Junex Doronio

MANILA — Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, welcomed the latest drop in self-rated poverty reported by OCTA Research, crediting President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.’s administration for its comprehensive efforts in reducing poverty.

Romualdez praised the administration for the latest Tugon ng Masa (TNM) survey results from OCTA Research, which showed a notable decline in both self-rated poverty and hunger levels during the third quarter of 2024.

“The reforms and programs implemented by President Marcos Jr.’s administration are clearly producing results. The latest survey shows that over a million Filipino families no longer consider themselves poor, which is a strong indicator of the administration’s success in its mission to reduce poverty,” Romualdez said.

“We are pleased with this positive news. The efforts to uplift our fellow Filipinos through the Bagong Pilipinas campaign of our beloved President are not in vain,” said the leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives.

The OCTA Research survey, conducted from August 28 to September 2, 2024, revealed a 5-percentage point drop in self-rated poverty, with approximately 1.4 million Filipino families now considering themselves “not poor.” Self-rated hunger also fell from 16% to 11%, with around 1.3 million families no longer experiencing hunger.

“Despite global challenges such as conflicts and supply chain disruptions, our administration continues to prioritize the welfare of the people, especially the marginalized,” Romualdez said.

“We are witnessing the results of President Marcos’ programs, and this brings hope to many Filipino families,” he added.

Romualdez emphasized that the administration’s targeted support programs, including food assistance and social safety nets, have played a crucial role in lifting families out of poverty. He stressed the government’s commitment to ensuring that no Filipino is left behind, especially in these difficult times.

“President Marcos has consistently pursued a vision of building a resilient economy that can withstand international disruptions. Through these interventions, we are seeing their positive impact on the lives of ordinary Filipinos,” Romualdez explained.

“In Congress, we will continue to support the Marcos administration’s efforts by passing measures that promote economic growth and strengthen social protection for our people,” he added.

Romualdez also commended the government’s efforts in addressing food insecurity, which contributed to the significant reduction in self-rated hunger. He noted that this success should inspire continued collaboration from both the public and private sectors.

“As we move forward, it is crucial for the government, private sector, and civil society to work together to sustain the momentum of our economic recovery. We must ensure that more families benefit from our economic progress,” Romualdez said.

“Congress will continue to support policies and programs that help our fellow Filipinos. We are committed to making the Marcos administration’s vision of a more equitable and prosperous Philippines a reality,” he further stated.

“We are seeing the positive changes, but this is just the beginning. With sustained efforts, we can further reduce poverty and create more opportunities for our people to thrive,” Romualdez concluded.

ia/mnm