Malaca±ang: Malaca±ang on Thursday vowed to continue government relief and subsidy programs after a survey showed an increase in self-rated poverty among Filipinos. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro, in a press briefing, assured the public that anti-poverty and anti-hunger initiatives would be sustained.

According to Philippines News Agency, around 800,000 more Filipino families rated themselves poor in July, bringing the total to roughly 11.9 million. OCTA said 45 percent of Filipino families now consider themselves poor, higher than the 42 percent recorded in April, which represented 11.1 million families.

These initiatives include the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Walang Gutom Program, 50-percent fare discounts for students and senior citizens, the “Benteng Bigas Meron Na!” program, and the Department of Education’s school feeding program. Castro mentioned that some measures, particularly the PHP20/kg rice, were only implemented recently and will take time to have a broader impact.

‘Patuloy pa rin nating gagawin ang mga ito para mas maramdaman pa po ng nakakarami (We will continue these efforts so that they will be felt by more people),’ Castro said.