The government is stepping up efforts to create higher-quality jobs and reduce poverty as new World Bank data showed that a significant share of Filipinos remain economically vulnerable despite years of growth, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the administration is aligning its economic strategy toward sustaining growth while ensuring that its benefits are more widely felt, particularly through employment generation, skills development, and stronger social protection systems.
She said the economic roadmap—citing the Department of Economic, Planning, and Development—also emphasizes closing service delivery gaps and strengthening both national and local government capacity to deliver more accessible and resilient public services.
The remarks came after the World Bank reported that nearly 30 percent of Filipinos are still at risk of slipping into poverty, even as the country continues to post steady economic gains.
Despite this, the report also described the Philippines as one of the fastest-growing middle-income economies over the past 15 years, with growth patterns considered broadly inclusive compared to peer economies.
The World Bank further projected that the country could become a predominantly middle-class society by 2040, provided that structural reforms are carried out to improve job creation and strengthen household resilience.
Castro said the administration remains focused on translating macroeconomic gains into real improvements in livelihoods, particularly for workers and vulnerable sectors.
She also pointed to recent labor data showing a drop in unemployment from 5.8 percent in March to 4.7 percent in April, with employment gains largely driven by the services sector.
The government, she added, will continue expanding livelihood programs and employment initiatives as part of its broader push to improve living standards and sustain economic momentum.
