Category: Business Mirror

TYPHOON Tino continues to wreak havoc in the Visayas and Mindanao as it slightly intensified as it moves towards the Eastern Visayas and Caraga area, the state weather bureau reported.

In its 5:00 p.m. Tropical Cyclone Bulletin on Monday, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said strong winds and heavy rainfall continue to threaten many areas in theVisayas and Mindanao.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) said a total of 11,314 persons from Region 8 and Caraga were pre-emptively evacuated.

While there are no reported fatalities as of Monday, the NDRRMC said the inclement weather has affected a total of 6,480 families or 23,442 persons in 52 barangays of nine towns in five provinces.

Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal 4 has been hoisted in the extreme southeastern portion of Eastern Samar (Guiuan), the southern portion of Leyte (Mahaplag, Abuyog, City of Baybay, Inopacan, Hilongos, Hindang, Bato, Matalom, Javier), Southern Leyte, Camotes Islands, and the northeastern portion of Bohol (Pres. Carlos P. Garcia, Getafe, Trinidad, Ubay, Bien Unido, Talibon) in the Visayas; and Dinagat Islands, and Siargao and Bucas Grande Islands in Mindanao.

Many areas in the Visayas remain under TCWS 3 including the southern portion of Eastern Samar (Mercedes, Lawaan, Balangiga, Giporlos, Quinapondan, Salcedo), the southern portion of Samar (Marabut), the central portion of Leyte (Tanauan, Palo, Tabontabon, Isabel, Merida, Palompon, Ormoc City, Dagami, Pastrana, Burauen, Albuera, Macarthur, La Paz, Mayorga, Dulag, Julita, Tolosa, Matag-Ob, Villaba, Kananga, Jaro), the northern and central portions of Cebu (Borbon, Sogod, Catmon, Carmen, Danao City, Compostela, Liloan, Lapu-Lapu City, Cordova, Consolacion, Mandaue City, Cebu City, Asturias, Balamban, Tuburan, Tabuelan, Tabogon, City of Talisay, City of Bogo, San Remigio, Medellin, Daanbantayan, Sibonga, City of Carcar, San Fernando, City of Naga, Minglanilla, Toledo City, Aloguinsan, Pinamungahan, Barili, Dumanjug) including Bantayan Islands, and the central and eastern portions of Bohol (San Miguel, Mabini, Buenavista, Inabanga, Danao, Dagohoy, Guindulman, Pilar, Alicia, Candijay, Anda, Jagna, Duero, Sierra Bullones, Carmen, Sagbayan, Clarin, Tubigon), the northern portion of Negros Oriental (Vallehermoso, Canlaon City, City of Guihulngan), the northern portion of Negros Occidental (Hinigaran, Moises Padilla, Isabela, La Castellana, Pontevedra, San Enrique, La Carlota City, Cadiz City, Bago City, Enrique B. Magalona, Toboso, Valladolid, Salvador Benedicto, Sagay City, Bacolod City, Murcia, City of Escalante, Calatrava, San Carlos City, Silay City, Pulupandan, City of Victorias, City of Talisay, Manapla), Guimaras, and the eastern portion of Iloilo (Concepcion, Barotac Nuevo, Ajuy, Iloilo City, Anilao, Barotac Viejo, Leganes, Zarraga, Dumangas, Banate).

In Mindanao, Signal 3 is still up in the rest of Surigao del Norte.

Many areas in the Visayas, Mindanao, and Luzon remain under TCWS 2 and 1 and are expected to experience rain in the next 48 hours.

Pagasa said significant to severe impacts from typhoon-force winds are possible within any of the areas under Wind Signal 4, while moderate to significant impacts from storm-force winds are possible within any of the areas under Wind Signal 3.

PAGASA said the surge of the northeast monsoon and the shear line coinciding with the passage of Tino will also bring strong to gale-force gusts overCagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Aurora, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Bataan, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Bicol Region today, and on Tuesday in the Cagayan Valley, Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Bicol Region.

Tino was last seen 170 km east-southeast of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, packing maximum sustained winds of 130 kmh near the center and gustiness of up to 160 kmh.

The typhoon is moving westward at 20 kmh.

Tino is forecasted to make landfall or pass very close to Homonhon Island or the Dinagat Islands Monday night or early Tuesday morning.

It is then expected to make landfall over Leyte or Southern Leyte by early Tuesday morning, before crossing the Visayas and northern Palawan throughout Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

The typhoon will likely emerge over the West Philippine Sea by Wednesday morning or afternoon and is expected to exit the Philippine Area of Responsibility by Thursday morning.

Tino is expected to remain at typhoon category throughout its passage over the country.

Pagasa said heavy rainfall, severe winds, and storm surge may still be experienced in localities outside the landfall point and the forecast confidence cone.

LOS ANGELES and San Francisco had pretty good weekends with the Dodgers and the 49ers winning their respective games.

The Dodgers though repeated as World Series Champions after outlasting the Toronto Blue Jays in 11 innings, 5-4.

Los Angeles becomes the first Major League Baseball team in 25 years to win back to back titles since the New York Yankees in 1999-2000.

The expectation level of being a ‘contender every year’ mentality helped in close games, tight series. The Game 7 win showed resilience.

In tight games, experience matters. The hits by Miguel Rojas and Will Smith came when it mattered the most and when pressure was at its highest in late innings and elimination on the line.

Depth wins championships. It wasn’t just one or two stars. The roster and pitchers performed when needed keeping the window of opportunity open.

With key players still in their prime and the organization invested, the Dodgers are positioned to contend again.

Competitiveness remains if the other team rises to the occasion.

The Blue Jays pushed the Dodgers hard and the margin for error was razor-thin.

So for any team to beat the Dodgers, they’ll have to be excellent in every phase.

As for the 49ers in their win against the Giants, 34-24, going to 6-3, Mac Jones was sharp, made few mistakes and took advantage of favorable match-ups.

The Giants still scored 24 points and had some moments of rhythm on offense, so the 49ers weren’t flawless.

The performance strengthens confidence in Mac Jones as a more than capable starter.

They now have to monitor injuries and maintain consistency in their running game, efficient passing, and solid defense as formulas for success.

This game showcased how a National Football League team with a balanced offensive attack, strong coaching, and opportunistic execution can pull away even when faced with a motivated opponent.

The 49ers leveraged McCaffrey’s versatility, Jones’ accuracy, and a balanced ground-attack to systematically control the game.

For the Giants, the loss underscores that talent alone isn’t enough without consistent team execution on both sides of the ball.

THE Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (Pagcor) saw its net income grow to P14.32 billion in the first nine months of the year, driven by its ‘renewed focus’ on governance and modernization initiatives.

A statement that Pagcor issued last Monday read that the net income of the state-run gaming regulator and operator jumped by 49 percent to P14.32 billion from January to September this year from the P9.63 billion in the same period last year.

This comes after Pagcor’s total revenues grew by 5.87 percent to P84.09 billion as of end-September from P79.43 billion a year ago.

Pagcor Chairman and CEO Alejandro H. Tengco was quoted in the statement as saying that the corporation’s strong revenue performance shows the positive impact of its governance and modernization initiatives.

‘Our financial performance is a clear reflection of Pagcor’s renewed focus on governance, digital transformation, as well as sustainable and responsible gaming,’ Tengco said.

About P75.93 billion of Pagcor’s total revenues came from gaming operations, while other related services and other income contributed P8.16 billion.

With these financials, Pagcor was able to remit P54.26 billion, an 11-percent increase from the P48.88 billion the government-owned and -controlled corporation contributed to nation-building in the same period last year.

As mandated by Presidential Decree 1869, the national government received about P36.06 billion of the January-to-September 2025 remittance, which consists of half of Pagcor’s gaming revenues minus the 5-percent franchise tax. These funds also cover allocations for the Dangerous Drugs Board and the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

In addition, Pagcor paid P3.79 billion in franchise taxes and P609.87 million in corporate income taxes to the Bureau of Internal Revenue.

The Pagcor also earmarked P11 billion for its socio-civic projects, including contributions to the President’s Social Fund.

Likewise, the Philippine Sports Commission received its mandated 5-percent share worth P1.80 billion, up by 8.66 percent from last year. Athletes and coaches who won in international sports competitions were also granted P26.54 million under the Sports Incentives and Benefits Act.

Other mandated Pagcor beneficiaries include the Board of Claims, which received P142.42 million, and the Renewable Energy Trust Fund, which got P201.47 million.

Cities hosting Casino Filipino branches were also allotted a total of P508.20 million in revenue shares.

‘Every peso that Pagcor earns goes back to the people through classrooms, health facilities, disaster response programs, and other community projects,’ Tengco said. ‘Our focus is to sustain this momentum while ensuring that the gaming industry continues to operate responsibly and contribute to national development.’

THE Bureau of Customs (BOC) has adopted a digital platform to streamline the processing of tax and duty exemptions in its bid to digitalize and modernize its administrative processes.

Customs Commissioner Ariel F. Nepomuceno issued Customs Memorandum Order (CMO) 07-2025 to implement and use the Enhanced Tax Exemption System Lite (e-TES Lite) of the Department of Finance (DOF).

The e-TES Lite is a database management system developed by the DOF’s Revenue Office for the electronic processing of tax and duty exemption applications.

The BOC said the platform is part of efforts to ‘better serve the public and streamline customs operations,’ as it enables online monitoring of Tax Exempt Indorsements (TEIs) from approval to utilization at the ports and to ensure quick and efficient access to TEIs through QR code scanning.

TEIs are signed DOF documents confirming the exemption from taxes or duties for a specific shipment, authorizing the BOC to release the goods.

Only authorized BOC personnel with official @customs.gov.ph e-mail accounts will be given access to the platform, which will be granted by the system administrator from the DOF.

Each transaction will be tracked through a unique Tax Exemption System (TES) number and, upon approval, a Tax Exempt Certificate (TEC) number generated in BOC’s E2M System for formal goods declarations.

An endorser from the BOC’s Tax Exempt Division (TED) will review, endorse or reject TEIs with discrepancies, while the chief from TED will approve or disapprove the TEIs.

Once the TEI is approved, importers may request the generation of a TEC number in the BOC’s E2M System for goods declaration under the formal entry process.

The endorser will initiate the generation and encode the TEC number in the e-TES Lite.

The BOC’s Management Information Systems and Technology Group will issue a memorandum detailing the schedule of the system’s nationwide rollout and conduct training sessions for all concerned personnel.

Moreover, the CMO warns that unauthorized access, credential sharing or failure to comply with its provisions will constitute administrative or criminal liability.

Nepomuceno, since assuming his post as BOC commissioner, has been pushing for the full digitalization of customs processes to curb smuggling and corruption within the Bureau.

Among these are fully digitalizing import entry submissions, assessments and release processes to minimize tampering and improve transparency.

This includes expanded use of scanning technologies, CCTV monitoring, and surveillance. The initiative is expected to roll out within one to one-and-a-half years.

TYPHOON Tino (international name: Kalmaegi) continues to strengthen over the Philippine Sea, with PAGASA warning that it may reach super typhoon status within 24 hours.

The system was last located 360 kilometers east of Guiuan, Eastern Samar, moving west-southwestward at 25 km/h.

Landfall is expected around midnight or early Tuesday morning over the southern portion of Eastern Samar, Leyte, Southern Leyte, or Dinagat Islands.

Tino will then traverse Visayas and northern Palawan before emerging over the West Philippine Sea by Wednesday.

Evacuate now, Pagasa urges

PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel T. Servando issued a strong appeal for early evacuation and strict adherence to local advisories, especially in high-risk areas.

‘Sa mga areas na maaapektuhan, pinapayuhan natin ang ating mga kababayan na maging vigilant. Sundin ang mga pinaiiral na payo ng kanilang mga lokal na disaster managers at local executives. If possible, as early as today ay lumikas na sa kanilang bahay, lalong-lalo na sa mga direktang tatamaan at alam nilang sila ay nasa hazard-prone area,’ Servando said.

He also warned fisherfolk and coastal residents to avoid venturing out to sea, citing the threat of dangerous waves: ‘Sa ating mga kababayan, if possible, itigil na ang pumalaot upang maiwasan ang magiging trahedya dahil inaasahan natin ang malalakas na pag-aalon ng karagatan.’

Track mirrors Yolanda, intensification ongoing

Tino’s projected path closely resembles that of Super Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) in 2013, raising alarm across Eastern Visayas.

While Yolanda remains historically stronger, Tino is forecast to reach peak intensity at landfall, with maximum sustained winds of 150 to 165 km/h and higher gusts.

PAGASA notes that a tropical cyclone is classified as a super typhoon once it reaches maximum sustained winds of at least 185 km/h near the center. With favorable sea conditions fueling rapid intensification, Tino may cross this threshold before landfall.

Hazards extend beyond forecast cone

Officials warn that severe winds, heavy rainfall, and storm surges may affect areas outside the landfall point and forecast confidence cone. Wind Signal No. 4-the highest alert level-may be raised in some areas, indicating winds strong enough to topple trees, damage crops, and disrupt power and communication lines.

Storm surges of 2.1 to 3 meters are expected in the Dinagat Islands, the rest of Eastern Samar, the eastern portion of Leyte, the northern and western portions of Northern Samar, the southern portion of Samar, and Siargao/Bucas Grande Islands.

Areas identified as highly prone to storm surges, especially those likely to fall under Signal No. 4, include Tacloban City and Palo in Leyte.

A broader range of coastal areas faces a 1 to 2 meter storm surge risk, including but not limited to Aklan, Antique, Biliran, Bohol, Capiz, Cebu, Iloilo, Masbate, Negros Occidental, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan, Sorsogon, and Southern Leyte.

Due to this high risk, residents in coastal areas are strongly advised to evacuate to higher ground and heed the guidance of local authorities.

Flooding and landslides expected

Peak effects-including torrential rains and strong winds-are expected today through Tuesday across Visayas, Southern Luzon, and parts of Mindanao.

PAGASA forecasts over 200 mm of rainfall in Eastern Samar and Dinagat Island today, increasing the risk of widespread flooding and landslides.

Rainfall forecasts:

Today (Nov 3):

Heavy to intense (100-200 mm): Northern Samar, Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Surigao del Norte

Moderate to heavy (50-100 mm): Sorsogon, Cebu, Bohol, Camiguin, Agusan del Norte

Tomorrow (Nov 4):

Severe flooding (>200 mm): Antique, Aklan, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental, parts of Cebu

Heavy to intense (100-200 mm): Romblon, Masbate, Samar, Eastern Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Bohol, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte

Moderate to heavy (50-100 mm): Rest of Bicol, Eastern Visayas, MIMAROPA, Zamboanga del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Sur, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Sur

Wednesday (Nov 5):

Heavy to intense rains: Occidental Mindoro, Oriental Mindoro, Palawan

Moderate to heavy rains: Marinduque, Quezon, Masbate, Romblon, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Iloilo, Guimaras, Negros Occidental

Disaster response teams are on high alert. Authorities continue to urge the public to monitor official advisories and prepare for emergency conditions.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is pushing for the exemption of more corporations from the mandatory submission of audited financial statements (FS), in a bid to further reduce compliance costs for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

In a policy paper submitted to the Department of Finance (DOF), the SEC argued that corporations with total assets or liabilities not exceeding P3 million should be required to submit annual financial statements certified under oath by their treasurer or chief financial officer in lieu of audited financial statements.

The proposed policy will apply to financial statements covering fiscal years ending on or after December 31, 2025, subject to final approval of the DOF.

If implemented, the higher threshold is expected to ease the regulatory and financial burden of micro enterprises, particularly those with total assets or total liabilities not exceeding P3 million, by exempting them from mandatory audits.

The SEC, at the moment, requires corporations with total assets or liabilities of at least P600,000 to submit annual financial statements audited by an independent certified public accountant.

Corporations with total assets and liabilities below the threshold need only submit financial statements certified under oath by their treasurer or chief financial officer.

‘We have repeatedly said that MSMEs are the backbone of the Philippine economy, which is why the SEC remains committed to implementing measures that will foster a business environment that is easier to navigate for our budding entrepreneurs,’ SEC Chairman Francis E. Lim said.

‘Our proposed policy will not only improve the ease of doing business, but will also cut unnecessary compliance requirements for micro entities, in support of the government’s goal of driving inclusive economic development.’

Beyond relieving the financial pressure on MSMEs, the proposed policy will reduce incidents of rubber-stamp audits, cut barriers to registration, simplify compliance obligations and allow the SEC to reallocate its supervision efforts toward high-risk entities.

Despite the removal of the audit requirement, the SEC will maintain regulatory oversight over the covered corporations through its visitorial powers under the Revised Corporation Code, which grants the commission the power to require audits if warranted by public interest, among others.

‘We assure the public that the proposal will not dilute oversight over corporations, including entities engaged in public infrastructure projects or other regulated sectors, as they generally exceed the P3 million threshold,’ Lim said.

About 389,500 minimum-wage earners in Ilocos and Western Visayas will receive higher pay starting this month after the regional wage boards approved new wage orders, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) announced on Monday.

The Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB) – Region I set a daily increase of P37 to P45, bringing the daily minimum wage for non-agricultural establishments employing 10 or more workers from P468 to P505.

Those employing fewer than 10 workers, including those in agriculture, will see rates rise from P435 to P480.

In Western Visayas, the regional board approved a P37 to P40 hike.

This brings the minimum wage for non-agricultural firms with more than 10 workers from P513 toP550, and for those with 10 or fewer from P485 to P525.

Agricultural workers, meanwhile, will earn between P480 and P520 per day.

The new rates for both regions will take effect on November 19.

The boards said the adjustments were made after a series of consultations with labor and employer groups.

Both regions cited the need to ease the impact of inflation while maintaining competitiveness and supporting business recovery.

In its decision, the RTWPB – Western Visayas said the increase was based on a review of the region’s socio-economic conditions, noting that the Consumer Price Index reached 126.2 in September 2025, up from 125.9 in November 2024.

The purchasing power of the peso stood at P0.79, while the poverty threshold for a family of five was pegged at P13,801 per month based on the latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data.

The region’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) also grew by 4.3 percent between 2023 and 2024.

For Ilocos, the board cited similar considerations.

Region I posted a 4.9-percent GRDP growth from 2022 to 2023, while the regional labor market remained strong with an employment rate of 95.3 percent as of July 2025.

The 2023 poverty threshold for a family of five was estimated at P13,478.51 per month, while the average inflation rate between November 2024 and September 2025 was at 2.3 percent.

The RTWPBs said these indicators showed that the regional economies could sustain moderate wage adjustments without harming employment or business activity.

Meanwhile, domestic workers or kasambahays in both regions will also receive monthly minimum wage increases.

In Ilocos, their pay will rise from P6,000 to P6,700, while those in Western Visayas will see their wages go up from P6,000 toP6,500.

A total of 258,819 domestic workers are expected to benefit from the increase.

Roblox Corp. pledged to boost safety measures and is prepared to share data with the Malaysian government, according to a minister, as officials weigh action over the popular video game after it was linked to a stabbing case in the Southeast Asian nation.

Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said she met with representatives of Roblox amid concern over the impact that some online games have on children’s behavior and emotions. Roblox has more than one million users in Malaysia alone, she said.

‘They gave their assurance that they would enhance safety through the use of AI technology and human monitoring, and are willing to work with the Malaysian government, especially when it comes to data sharing and compliance with government regulations,’ Yeoh wrote on Facebook on Monday.

Roblox came under scrutiny in Malaysia after police said the game may have influenced a nine-year-old to attack his younger brother. He had been playing the game excessively, amassing about a million points, before his phone was damaged by the younger brother, The Star reported, citing Johor police chief Ab Rahaman Arsad.

The victim, six, was found with slash wounds on his neck and stab injuries on his body, according to local media. The case has prompted the government to consider banning or regulating online games.

THE national government’s debt payments spiked by more than two and a half times in September, bringing the total debt service for the first nine months to P1.868 trillion.

Latest data from the Bureau of the Treasury (BTr) showed the government’s debt payments rose by 250.27 percent to P327.892 billion in September 2025, from P93.610 billion during the same month last year.

About three-fourths of the debt service in September was used to pay amortization, while the remaining quarter of the amount went to interest payments.

Amortization, or principal payments, for September jumped more than twelvefold to P246.188 billion from P19.758 billion a year ago.

Payments to domestic creditors soared to P237.925 billion, skyrocketing by 273,377 percent year-on-year.

In contrast, amortization for foreign debt dropped by 57.99 percent to P8.263 billion from a year earlier.

Meanwhile, interest payments in September grew by 10.63 percent to P81.704 billion from P73.852 billion in the same month last year.

The government’s domestic interest payments went up by 17.80 percent to P65.271 billion, while interest on foreign debt declined by 10.91 percent to P16.433 billion.

Michael L. Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), attributed the sharp rise in September’s debt servicing to the maturity of large Treasury bond issuances during the month.

Data from the Treasury showed there were some P237.786 billion worth of benchmark bonds and P141.3 billion worth of Treasury bills that matured in September this year.

From January to September, total debt servicing reached P1.868 trillion, up by 13.68 percent from P1.643 trillion in the same period last year.

The amount already represents 90.97 percent of the government’s P2.054-trillion full-year debt service program.

Broken down, amortization payments to both domestic and external sources climbed by 13.43 percent to P1.202 trillion from last year’s P1.060 trillion.

Of this amount, P1.006 trillion went to local lenders, while P196.482 billion was paid to foreign creditors.

On the other hand, interest payments for the nine-month period also increased by 14.15 percent to P665.849 billion, compared to the P583.293 billion a year earlier.

Most of these payments were made to domestic creditors, which grew by 14.40 percent to P1.006 trillion, while those to external lenders increased by 8.69 percent to P196.482 billion.

For the remaining months of the year, Ricafort said there are no more large Treasury bond maturities that could lead to lower debt servicing.

Ricafort added that the reduction in interest rates by the US Federal Reserve and the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) since the latter part of 2024 could help reduce the government’s debt servicing.

‘But offset by higher US dollar/peso exchange rate in recent months that could lead to higher debt servicing of foreign debts as they fall due,’ Ricafort noted.

The government’s financing program amounts to P2.6 trillion this year-a sum meant to plug its projected budget deficit of P1.561 trillion.

So far, P2.394 trillion has been borrowed as of the end of September, mostly sourced domestically.

As of end-September this year, the government’s outstanding debt reached P17.455 trillion, of which P11.972 trillion was owed to domestic sources while P5.482 trillion was borrowed from external lenders.

The latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey reveals a concerning reality: half of Filipino families-a staggering 14.2 million households-still rate themselves as poor. This figure, unchanged from April 2025 and slightly up from June, is a searing indictment of the persistent economic struggle endured by millions, and a deafening alarm bell demanding a fundamental shift in approach. (Read the BusinessMirror story: ‘Half of Pinoy families rate themselves ‘poor’-SWS poll,’ October 30, 2025).

For over four decades, SWS has meticulously tracked this self-perception of poverty. While the current 50 percent is significantly lower than the harrowing peaks of the mid-80s and early 90s, it remains depressingly high, stubbornly hovering far above the record low of 38 percent achieved in 2019.

The regional breakdown paints an even more alarming picture. Mindanao’s 69 percent self-rated poverty rate is a crisis demanding immediate, focused intervention. While the Visayas saw a welcome 6-point decline (to 54 percent), this was accompanied by a worrying doubling of families rating themselves as ‘borderline,’ suggesting acute vulnerability and economic fragility. Meanwhile, significant increases in poverty perception in both Metro Manila (up 7 points to 43 percent) and Balance Luzon (up 4 points to 42 percent) indicate that economic pressures are tightening their grip even in areas traditionally seen as more affluent.

Equally concerning is the parallel story of food poverty. The 41 percent of families rating themselves as ‘food-poor’-meaning they feel they cannot afford even basic decent meals-remains unchanged since April. While marginally lower than 2024’s average, it underscores the daily battle against hunger faced by a massive segment of the population.

These numbers are not just about income; they are stories about the most fundamental human need. They represent parents skipping meals to feed children, workers trapped in low-wage jobs with no security, families living in constant fear of the next unexpected expense pushing them over the edge, and generations seeing limited pathways out of hardship. The ‘borderline’ category, holding steady at 12 percent nationally but surging in the Visayas, represents millions teetering precariously, one shock away from slipping into outright poverty.

The persistence of this high self-rated poverty points to deep-seated structural issues. It highlights the failure of economic growth to translate into broad-based prosperity, the inadequacy of social safety nets, the crushing weight of inflation on basic goods, and the persistent inequalities plaguing different regions. It speaks to a lack of quality jobs, accessible healthcare, affordable housing, and reliable pathways to upward mobility.

Policymakers and leaders must move beyond complacency, recognizing that incremental change is no longer sufficient. There is a pressing need for targeted interventions in regions like Mindanao, where generic national programs have failed to address specific community challenges.

Additionally, immediate relief from inflation is crucial to combat rising costs of food, energy, and transportation, which significantly impact purchasing power and contribute to the perception of poverty.

Job creation should focus on quality, offering fair wages and benefits to enable families to build sustainable futures through dignified employment.

Social safety nets must be robust and adaptable, effectively supporting those at risk of poverty to prevent their situations from worsening.

When half the country says it has nothing left to lose, that should alarm everyone. This ‘national emergency’ reflects a failure to deliver on the fundamental promise of a decent life for all Filipinos. An economy’s success shouldn’t be judged only by growth but by whether families can feed their children, keep them in school, and avoid eviction.

Half of Filipino families seeing themselves as poor is a moral indictment-and a call to design policies rooted in family realities, invest in people as well as infrastructure, and judge progress by how inclusive it is. If the nation truly seeks shared prosperity, it must act with urgency and compassion.