As more Pinoys become poor, ‘Palace tells us to just endure it’ – Castro

ACT Teacher Party-list Rep. France Castro (INQUIRER photo/LYN RILLON)

MANILA, Philippines — Two key figures from the House of Representatives aired opposing views on the high self-rated poverty figures, as shown by a recent survey.

One of them called out the current administration for its inability to address the issue, while another said that it will spur lawmakers to work harder.

In a statement on Thursday, ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro and former lawmaker Antonio Tinio criticized President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration as a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed that 63 percent of Filipinos surveyed considered themselves poor.

This was the highest figure obtained by SWS since 2003.

READ: SWS: Self-rated poverty at 63%, highest since 2003 

According to Castro, it appears Malacañang is just asking people to endure hardships as it resorts to adding more financial burdens to the public.

These burdens include the proposed Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) fare hikes and the contribution increase for Social Security System (SSS) members.

“Amidst rising costs of basic goods and services, the Marcos administration remains passive, leaving the Filipino people to fend for themselves,” Castro said.

“Electricity, water and fuel prices are skyrocketing, LRT fares are set to climb, and SSS premiums are increasing, yet Malacañang tells us to just endure it,” the lawmaker pointed out.

“What kind of government allows its people to suffer like this?” Castro asked.

“The government must act now to prevent further suffering. We demand immediate interventions to control the rising prices of essentials and to review economic policies that have failed our people,” she added.

Assistant Majority Leader and Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, meanwhile, said the House will be part of Marcos’ mission to fight poverty and ensure food security.

“These figures highlight the urgency of our work in the House under the capable leadership of Speaker Romualdez, while also underscoring the potential impact of the measures we are putting in place,” Acidre remarked.

Acidre mentioned that the House has built a quinta committee, which seeks to check why prices of basic goods and commodities have not decreased despite numerous interventions.

The survey from SWS showed a steady rise in self-rated poverty — up from 46 percent in March 2024, then 58 percent in June, 59 percent in September, and then, 63 percent in December.

The survey was conducted from December 12 to 18, 2024.

This means the average self-rated poverty for 2024 was at 57 percent, a nine percentage point increase from the 48 percent recorded in 2023 and 2022.

On the other hand, the number of Filipinos who considered themselves ‘not poor’ decreased from 28 percent in September 2024 to 26 percent in December 2024.

Tinio believes long-term solutions should be available, and not mere temporary aid.

“The government’s current approach is inadequate. We need a national industrialization plan that will create stable jobs, provide livable wages, and support our farmers,” he said.

“Band-aid solutions like temporary aid are not enough. The government must address the root causes of high prices and question the oil companies’ manipulation of fuel prices,” he emphasized.

“Ibasura ang Rice Tariffication Law at ibalik sa kagyat ang original function ng National Food Authority,” he asked the executive branch of government.

(Repeal the Rice Tariffication Law and put back the original function of the National Food Authority.)

“Hindi uubra ang P60 maximum suggested retail price ng bigas, lalo pa ito nag-aanyaya ng pagsasamantala,” he maintained.

(We cannot live with a P60 maximum suggested retail price for rice, especially since it encourages racketeering.)