Ikinatuwa ng Malacañang ang resulta ng bagong survey na nagpapakita ng mababang self-rated poverty sa bansa, na nangangahulugang epektibong naiibsan ng gobyerno ang kahirapan sa Pilipinas.
“Change has indeed come, and it is being felt by our people,” sinabi ni Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar.
“For two consecutive quarters, Filipino families who considered themselves mahirap/poor reached new record low,” dagdag pa ni Andanar.
Sa survey ng Social Weather Stations (SWS) noong Disyembre, natukoy na 44 na porsiyento ng mga pamilya o nasa 10 milyon ang itinuturing ang kanilang sarili na mahirap. Dinaig ng bilang na ito ang naunang record na 47% noong 1987, ayon kay Andanar.
Aniya, pinatunayan ng survey na “we are on the right direction in putting emphasis on poverty alongside the war on drugs and crime.”
“The President’s first Executive Order, if you will recall, is streamlining the agencies of government that deal with poverty. He wants simpler and faster services that will address the needs of the poorest of the poor constituency,” sabi pa ni Andanar. (Genalyn D. Kabiling)