Manila: Malaca±ang on Tuesday said the government continues to listen to the economic concerns of Filipinos, following a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showing that 50 percent of families still consider themselves poor. Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized that the administration will not ignore public sentiment, even as official data show strong employment and controlled inflation.

According to Philippines News Agency, Castro stated that the government will not turn a deaf ear to public concerns, ensuring that feedback from citizens will be taken into account to enhance government services. The September 2025 SWS survey indicated a slight increase in the number of families considering themselves poor, up from 49 percent in June. Respondents cited inflation and high prices of goods as primary reasons for their perceived poverty.

Castro mentioned that while the Palace regards SWS surveys as ‘subjective indicators of well-being,’ they will also verify these findings against official data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to get an objective income-based picture. She highlighted several government initiatives aimed at improving living conditions, including achieving a 96.1 percent employment rate and maintaining an inflation rate of 1.7 percent, which is within the 2-4 percent target range. Additionally, social programs such as ‘Walang Gutom’ and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) have helped 860,471 beneficiaries graduate from poverty.

The Palace assured that survey results would be used to refine policies focused on reducing inflation and poverty, highlighting the administration’s commitment to a responsive and adaptive governance approach.