MANILA – The economy remains robust under the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., with the government’s economic team reporting gains in employment and poverty reduction.

During the 7th Economy and Development (ED) Council Meeting presided over by President Marcos at Malacañan Palace on Monday, economic managers said the country surpassed its targets for job generation and poverty reduction last year.

“Ekonomiya ng bansa nananatiling positibo at masigla sa ilalim ng administrasyon ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.,” Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing at Malacañang on Tuesday, relaying the economic team’s report.

Based on the report, the unemployment rate declined to 4.7 percent in 2025 from 10.3 percent in 2020.

“Ibig sabihin nito ay dumarami na ang mga kababayan nating may disenteng trabaho,” Castro said.

The underemployment rate also dropped to 13.6 percent in 2025 from 16.2 percent in 2020, indicating that more Filipinos are finding suitable and sufficient employment.

Castro said the government remains committed to creating more high-quality jobs and further reducing poverty to a single-digit level by 2028.

Citing the same report, Castro said the number of poor Filipinos decreased by 2.4 million from 2021 to 2023, with poverty incidence recorded at 17.5 million in 2023, lower than the 19.9 million in 2021.

She added that inflation remains manageable.

Castro also said the administration’s strategic priorities for 2026 to 2028 include accelerating the implementation of critical programs, activities, and projects to address concerns in key sectors such as health, education, agriculture, and social protection.

For the medium term, the government plans to anchor the implementation of these programs on good governance principles by maximizing the use of technology, ensuring the optimal use of resources, and delivering government services efficiently.