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Pandemic 'clearly' worsened PH poverty in 2020: ADB official

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Warren de Guzman, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/business/04/28/20201005-pandemic-trash-draft-jc-4037.jpg"/><figcaption>Trash is strewn on the street at the Baseco Compound in Port Area in Manila on September 17, 2020. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></figcaption></figure></div><div><br/><strong>But situation seen improving as economy recovers</strong></div><p><br/>MANILA - Poverty in the Philippines worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will remain high this year, an official of the Asian Development Bank said Wednesday.</p><p>&quot;Clearly, poverty increased in 2020. It will remain elevated this year,&quot; said ADB country director Kelly Bird in a virtual briefing. </p><p>The COVID-19 pandemic likely pushed the Philippine poverty incidence to 20 percent this year from 16.7 percent in 2018, Bird said. </p><p>With the country&#x27;s population seen at 110 million, a poverty incidence rate of 20 percent would be equivalent to about 22 million poor Filipinos. In contrast, the number of poor Filipinos in 2018 was estimated at 17.7 million. </p><p>Bird however added that ADB expects poverty to decline as the economy reopens. </p><p>&quot;A lot of those who have fallen into poverty, it will be temporary for them. As long as the economy continues to grow, we should see those numbers decline,&quot; Bird said. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/03/09/21/4-million-filipinos-jobless-in-january-even-as-economy-further-reopens">4 million Filipinos jobless in January even as economy further reopens</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/28/21/pandemic-scarring-effect-philippine-jobs">Pandemic leading to lower quality jobs: ADB official</a></li></ul><p>Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua earlier said the Philippines could still bring down poverty incidence to its target of 14 percent by 2022 despite the pandemic. </p><p>&quot;The 14 percent target is still doable given the anticipated head start and recovery this year,&quot; Chua had said, but added that they are monitoring recent developments such as a surge in the new COVID variants and imposition of stricter quarantine.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/09/11/20/pandemic-seen-to-temporarily-slow-governments-gains-in-reducing-poverty-neda">Pandemic seen to &#x27;temporarily slow&#x27; government&#x27;s gains in reducing poverty: NEDA</a></li></ul><p>Bird said keeping the poverty incidence target was &quot;the right thing&quot; to do since this would serve as a guide in crafting policies.</p><p>&quot;It is important because that is where the government can develop programs and policies, ensure adequate funding for the social sector so they can achieve that target of 14 percent. It is important to stick with that target,&quot; Bird said.</p><p>Data showed the country was able to reduce poverty incidence to 16.7 percent in 2018 from 23.5 percent in 2015, lifting at least 6 million Filipinos out of poverty.</p><p>The Asian Development Bank on Wednesday said the Philippine economy could grow by at least <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/04/28/21/philippine-economy-growth-45-percent-2021-adb">4.5 percent</a> in 2021 and by 5.5 percent in 2022. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/spotlight/multimedia/infographic/12/06/19/poverty-incidence-declines-in-3-years">Poverty incidence declines in 3 years</a></li>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/12/06/19/fewer-poor-filipino-individuals-families-in-2018-official-data">Fewer poor Filipino individuals, families in 2018: official data</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO: </strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1673438" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Poverty in the Philippines worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will remain high this year, an official of the Asian Development Bank said Wednesday.</p>

Poverty in the Philippines worsened due to the COVID-19 pandemic and will remain high this year, an official of the Asian Development Bank said Wednesday.

Pandemic 'clearly' worsened PH poverty in 2020: ADB official

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Pandemic 'clearly' worsened PH poverty in 2020: ADB official

Warren de Guzman,

ABS-CBN News

Published Apr 28, 2021 03:06 PM PHT

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Asian Development Bank

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poverty in the Philippines

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COVID-19 pandemic

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