Camille Naredo

People fall in line at a supermarket in Pasig City as Filipinos rush to buy goods on March 13, 2020. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File

People fall in line at a supermarket in Pasig City as Filipinos rush to buy goods on March 13, 2020, a day after President Duterte declared a community quarantine in Metro Manila. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

QUARANTINE

Harlene Delgado

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178312343716220200313-coronavirus-grocery-GC-6936.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="People fall in line at a supermarket in Pasig City as Filipinos rush to buy goods on March 13, 2020. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File"/>People fall in line at a supermarket in Pasig City as Filipinos rush to buy goods on March 13, 2020. George Calvelo, ABS-CBN News/File</div>VANCOUVER, Canada – Malacañang defended the World Bank&#x27;s upper-middle-income classification for the Philippines, amid criticism that it does not reflect the daily realities of millions of Filipinos who still struggle with high prices and poverty.Think tank Ibon Foundation earlier downplayed the Philippines&#x27; elevated rank, calling it a meaningless statistical computation that hides chronic poverty and worsening inequality in the country.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2026/7/1/philippines-now-an-upper-middle-income-country-2222">READ: Philippines now an &#x27;upper-middle income&#x27; country</a></div>Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said the Marcos administration is aware that much work still needs to be done despite the country&#x27;s new income status.She said social interventions are underway to address poverty, hunger, and unemployment.&quot;Ito naman po ay hindi ibig sabihin na ang bawat Pilipino ay nasa ganung lebel na hindi na magkakaroon ng financial challenge. Alam po natin sa ngayon na marami pa rin pong mga kababayan natin ang kinakailangan ang tulong,&quot; she said in a press briefing here in Vancouver, Canada, on Friday, July 3 (local time), on the sidelines of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.&#x27;s official visit.&quot;Nagkakaroon po ng intervention ang gobyerno at nagpapatupad ng kinakailangan natin para ang mga kababayan natin ay maramdaman ang ginhawa sa buhay,&quot; Castro added.The Palace official remained optimistic that the country&#x27;s elevated rank will soon rake in investments for the Philippines, which in turn would generate jobs and improve the economic outlook.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/7/3/marcos-not-worried-by-potential-effects-of-ph-s-upper-middle-income-status-0918">READ: Marcos confident investments will come after PH’s upgraded income status</a></div>&quot;So, ito pong pagiging upper middle-income country, hindi po &#x27;to finish line, hindi po ito katapusan. Marami pa pong dapat gawin ang bansa para mas umangat pa ang ekonomiya,&quot; Castro said.&quot;Mas siguro, gaganda pa ito kung walang mga obstructionist na ang purpose lamang ay manira at sirain ang Pangulo at ang administrasyon. Sana makita nila yung pagsusumikap ng administrasyon na ito upang iangat ang ekonomiya ng bansa,&quot; she added.President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. earlier said he was not worried about the impact of the country&#x27;s income reclassification in terms of receiving foreign grants, expressing confidence that these will be replaced by steady streams of investments.

Malacañang defended the World Bank's upper-middle-income classification for the Philippines, amid criticism that it does not reflect the daily realities of millions of Filipinos who still struggle with high prices and poverty.

Malacañang defended the World Bank's upper-middle-income classification for the Philippines, amid criticism that it does not reflect the daily realities of millions of Filipinos who still struggle with high prices and poverty.

'Hindi ito finish line': Palace says interventions continue amid PH's upper middle-income rank

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'Hindi ito finish line': Palace says interventions continue amid PH's upper middle-income rank

Harlene Delgado,

ABS-CBN News

Published July 04, 2026 08:18 AM PHT

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Claire Castro

IBON Foundation

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