A recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey reveals a concerning increase in the number of Filipino families identifying themselves as poor, despite the Marcos administration's continuous allocation of 'ayuda' funds in the annual budget.
Despite the Marcos administration's focus on including various forms of 'ayuda' for the poor in the annual budget, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed a significant increase in the number of Filipino families who identify themselves as poor. The polling firm reported that self-rated poverty at 63 percent in December, up from 59 percent in September, was the highest in 21 years.
This increase was observed even though there are indications that 'poor families have been lowering their living standards, i.e., belt-tightening,' SWS said.One crucial takeaway for the administration, particularly Congress, is that more 'ayuda' does not effectively reduce poverty. They should seriously consider the SWS survey and overhaul their poverty alleviation strategies.The rising number of Filipino families classifying themselves as poor also points to the administration's failure to control inflation. The survey, conducted from December 12 to 18, found that the self-rated poverty threshold — the minimum monthly budget for home expenses necessary for self-rated poor families to avoid considering themselves poor — fell for two consecutive quarters last year, from P15,000 in June to P12,000 in September and P10,000 in December. Simply put, a family now needs to spend at least P10,000 a month to meet basic food and non-food needs (down from P15,000 in June and P12,000 in September).The self-rated poverty threshold varied across regions, reaching P20,000 in Metro Manila in December (up from P18,000 in September). In Balance Luzon, it dropped from P15,000 to P10,000, while it remained at P10,000 in the Visayas and Mindanao.In October, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) announced that the national government allocated P318.5 billion for 'ayuda,' or cash assistance programs, in 2024. This surpassed the 2021, 2022, and 2023 allocations of P200.9 billion, P276.8 billion, and P251.3 billion, respectively. For 2025, the DBM initially proposed P253.38 billion, but President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. reinstated the P50 billion cut from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and allocated P26 billion for the House-initiated Ayuda Para sa Kapos Ang Kita Program (AKAP).These lump sum appropriations in the annual budget were intended to address poverty and hunger. The financial assistance programs are managed by various departments, including the Department of Agriculture, Department of Health, Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.However, instead of achieving the intended goal of poverty reduction, these 'ayuda' programs seem to encourage a culture of dependency through a system that promotes patronage politics at all levels, from barangays to the presidency.Each new year brings hope for positive change. But when the prices of essential goods and services continue to rise despite declining quality and quantity, people feel poorer as their purchasing power diminishes.In 2022, the Duterte administration promised 'change is coming' and a 'comfortable life for every Filipino family.' After six years, both the economy and the well-being of more Filipino families have worsened. The Marcos administration claims its goal to eradicate hunger by 2027 and achieve a single-digit poverty incidence by the end of his term in 2028 is on track. However, with its midterm approaching, more Filipino families see themselves as poor. How does it envision dole-outs improving the lives of the poor?It's time the administration seriously reviewed its policies and implemented genuine, straightforward programs to enhance the quality of life, not just for the poor but also for middle-income families who have long borne the brunt of misplaced and mishandled priorities
POVERTY INFLATION PHILIPPINE ECONOMY 'AYUDA' PROGRAMS SOCIAL WELFARE
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