A year has passed since President Ferdinand Bongbong
Marcos Jr. committed during his 2025 State of the Nation Address to continue fighting poverty and hunger through job creation and small business support. Yet economic reality on the ground reflects persistent hardship for millions of households.
Poverty and Unemployment Figures Highlight Economic Strain
According to a Social Weather Station survey conducted in late March 2026, 52% or 14.5 million Filipino families identify themselves as poor. This figure marks a one percentage point increase from the 51% recorded in November 2025. A breakdown of the March 2026 data shows that 1.9 million families were newly poor, 2.7 million were usually poor, and 9.9 million were always poor.
Employment data from the Philippine Statistics Authority reinforces these economic pressures. The agency reported that 2.5 million Filipinos aged 15 and above were without jobs or livelihoods in May 2026. That total rose from 2.41 million jobless individuals in April 2026 and 2.03 million in May 2025, translating to an unemployment rate of 4.8% in May 2026, up from 4.7% in April and 3.9% in May of the previous year.
Government Livelihood Commitments and Industry Support
During his fourth State of the Nation Address, President Marcos outlined a broad multi-agency effort involving the Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Tourism to generate opportunities for the workforce. He also pledged low-interest and non-collateralized capital for microenterprises.
The President added last year that the administration would not stop until it helped almost 2.5 million poor families start their own small businesses. Beyond microloans, the administration committed to strengthening industries ranging from automotive, manufacturing, and electronics to biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, critical minerals, local textiles, halal products, construction, and power generation.
Malacañang maintains that the government remains committed to creating quality and productive jobs, attracting investments, and providing livelihood opportunities for displaced workers and returning overseas Filipinos. International investors were directly courted during the presidential address, with the administration emphasizing that the country’s workforce is ready to succeed alongside global partners.
Targeted Interventions Across Labor and Welfare Agencies
State agencies have rolled out expanded programs to counter the persistent numbers of jobless and vulnerable citizens. The Department of Labor and Employment is strengthening labor education for graduating students and expanding nationwide job fairs to assist underemployed individuals.
Furthermore, labor officials are enhancing partnerships with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority to improve skills training. Entrepreneurship interventions are also being integrated directly into the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers program.
On the social welfare front, the Department of Social Welfare and Development reported that around 1.4 million families have graduated from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program since 2022. This graduation milestone prompted the government to restore 500,000 beneficiaries under a recalibrated anti-poverty effort.
Expanding Financial Assistance Amid Commodity Pressures
External economic shocks have forced adjustments to social safety nets. Driven by the impacts of the Middle East conflict, the administration expanded the United Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport program to provide financial assistance to indigent families grappling with rising fuel and commodity prices.
This particular relief initiative will also cover tax-paying near-poor earners rather than being restricted exclusively to the poorest households, targeting a total of 7.5 million households or 37.5 million individuals.
Simultaneously, the welfare department continues to roll out an expanded First 1,000 Days cash grant package, which increases the monthly benefit for qualified 4Ps beneficiaries from P350 to P750. Anti-hunger initiatives like the Walang Gutom program also remain active in addressing involuntary hunger across low-income communities.
Public Consensus and Expert Scrutiny of State Policies
Public reaction to the fifth State of the Nation Address remains measured as analysts evaluate the long-term viability of the administration’s economic blueprint. Initial public feedback was generally, and only mildly, positive, though historical patterns indicate that public consensus takes some time to form.
To examine these developments beyond the capital, discourse surrounding the national address incorporated perspectives from regional voices across Davao, Iloilo, and Camarines Sur. Governance experts and development specialists continue to scrutinize the administration’s interventions.
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