Manila: The government exceeded its employment and poverty-reduction targets in 2025, Malaca±ang said Tuesday, as President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. ordered further reforms in the use of public funds, particularly for flood control and climate resilience projects. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said President Marcos presided over the 7th Economic and Development Council (EDC) meeting at Malaca±ang on Monday, where the economic team reported stronger labor market outcomes and sustained poverty reduction.
According to Philippines News Agency, the unemployment rate fell sharply from 10.3 percent in 2020 to 4.7 percent in 2025, indicating a steady rise in the number of Filipinos with stable employment. 'Ibig sabihin nito ay dumarami na ang mga kababayan nating may disenteng trabaho (This means more Filipinos now have decent jobs),' Castro said. Underemployment also declined significantly, from 16.2 percent in 2020 to 13.6 percent in 2025, reflecting improved job quality and better matching of skills to work opportunities.
The economic team reiterated the administration's commitment to generate more quality jobs and bring poverty incidence down to single-digit levels by 2028. Data presented during the meeting showed that 2.4 million fewer Filipinos lived in poverty from 2021 to 2023, with the number of poor declining to 17.5 million in 2023, down from 19.9 million in 2021. This trend aligns with the latest surveys indicating a sustained reduction in poverty incidence, according to Castro.
The Palace official also said inflation remains manageable, providing a more stable environment for growth and household spending. During the meeting, Marcos directed government agencies to address long-standing issues in flood control, climate change impacts, and external economic pressures. 'Ipinag-utos ng Pangulo na bigyang-tugon ang flood control issue, epekto ng climate change at ilang external forces na sumusubok sa ekonomiya ng bansa (The President ordered that flood control issues, the effects of climate change, and external forces affecting the economy be addressed),' Castro said.
Marcos also underscored the need for reforms in the use of public funds to prevent a repeat of anomalous flood control projects. 'Naniniwala ang Pangulo na kailangang magkaroon ng reporma sa paggamit ng pondo ng bayan upang hindi na maulit ang nangyari noong mga nakaraang mga maanomalyang flood control projects (The President believes that deeper reforms on the use of public funds are needed to ensure that flood control anomalies will not be repeated),' Castro said. On climate action, the President underscored the importance of improved forecasting, response, and adaptation through modern and appropriate technologies. He also called for stronger cooperation with other countries, particularly within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), to bolster economic stability and regional resilience.
