Pandemic pushed millions more into poverty in the Philippines, government says

Children pray before eating their free meals inside a missionary house during a feeding program funded by a South Korean missionary, at a slum area in Baseco, Tondo city, metro Manila
Children pray before eating their free meals inside a missionary house during a feeding program funded by a South Korean missionary, at a slum area in Baseco, Tondo city, metro Manila, Philippines January 2, 2018. REUTERS/Romeo Ranoco

MANILA, Aug 15 (Reuters) - About 2.3 million people in the Philippines were pushed into poverty between 2018 and 2021, largely due to the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, the statistics agency said on Monday.

The number of people living in poverty in 2021 rose to a total of almost 20 million or 18.1% of the population from 16.7% in 2018, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said, overshooting the government's target of 15.5%-17.5%.

Recently inaugurated President Ferdinand Marcos Jr aims to slash the poverty rate to 9% by the end of his single six-year term in 2028 - a target that remains achievable despite soaring inflation, according to Economic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.

Link: https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/pandemic-pushed-millions-more-into-poverty-philippines-govt-2022-08-15/


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