Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 11) — Malacañang on Thursday said the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) carefully prepared its report that found poverty incidence level in the country was lower in the first half of 2018.
In his regular media briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said he trusts the PSA conducted sufficient research for its independent study.
“I’m sure pinag-aralan nila ‘yun. I’m sure tinanong nila ‘yung mga respondents sa survey tapos nakuha nila yung average,” he said.
[Translation: I’m sure they did their research. I’m sure they asked respondents in a survey, then they got the average.]
The PSA on Wednesday released the Official Poverty Statistics of the Philippines for the first semester of 2018, which reported a significant drop in Filipinos living below the monthly poverty threshold.
According to the latest report, PSA said 16.1 percent of Filipino families were below the poverty threshold, a six-point drop from the 2015 data of 22.2 percent.
Individuals living below the threshold pertain to those who earn less than the average amount to buy the basic food and non-food requirements needed by a family of five.
PSA added that a monthly budget of ₱10,481 is sufficient for a family of five to buy basic necessities.
Asked if the Palace found the budget “realistic,” Panelo said he will leave it up to the PSA to explain.
“Eh ako naman I will leave it to them kasi sila nag-conduct ng survey. Sila nag-aral, eh tayo nandito naman. Wala tayong alam doon,” the spokesman stressed.
[Translation: For me, I will leave it to them because they were the ones who conducted the survey. They reviewed it, while we’re here, we don’t know anything about it.]
CNN Philippines’ Ina Andolong contributed to this report.
