Malacañang airs concern over more ‘poor’ Filipinos

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/JOAN BONDOC

Malacañang is concerned over the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey that showed more than half of Filipinos considered themselves poor.

“We view with concern the Third Quarter 2018 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing 52% of Filipino families considered themselves as mahirap and 36% rating their food as mahirap,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

READ: More Filipinos believe they are poor – SWS

Roque cited that the survey, which was conducted from September 15 to 23, happened when inflation hit a record-high 6.7 percent.

“Nauunawaan namin ang sentimyento ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.

“For one, the destruction to agriculture and infrastructure caused by Typhoon Ompong in the Cordillera, Ilocos and Cagayan regions contributed to higher inflation.  This would explain why self-rated poverty (SRP) in Balance Luzon rose to 47% in September,” he added.

He assured the public that the government has “implemented measures to cushion the impact of inflation and bring food on the table of poor families.”

“Kasama na rito ang direktiba ng Pangulo sa kanyang huling pagpupulong sa mga miyembro ng kanyang Gabinete na walang limitasyong pag-aangkat ng bigas para palakasin ang suplay ng bigas at mapababa ang presyo nito,” he said.

Roque was referring to the order of Duterte on approving the “unimpeded” rice importation in the country to tame inflation.

READ: Duterte OKs unimpeded rice importation, says Roque

The government, Roque said, would ensure that no Filipino family should go hungry.

“Walang pamilyang Pilipino ang dapat magutom.  Iyan ang atas at hangarin ng Pangulo,” he said. /cbb