Abstract: Despite notable progress in poverty reduction since 2012, many Filipinos remain vulnerable to economic and climate-related shocks, which threaten to reverse hard-won gains. By examining the underlying drivers such as economic growth, labor market dynamics, and social policies, the report sheds light on the factors that have enabled progress as well as persistent bottlenecks, including labor market barriers and limited access to quality services. Building on these insights, the report proposes a set of targeted policy recommendations aimed at overcoming these obstacles and sustaining inclusive growth, with the goal of fostering a more resilient and prosperous society.
Speaker: Dr. Liliana Sousa is a Senior Economist in the Poverty and Equity Unit in the East Asian and Pacific Region at the World Bank. In her current role, she focuses on analytics and policies to reduce poverty and foster economic inclusion in the Philippines. She has authored work on various topics, with a particular interest in the labor market and migration. She received her Ph.D. in economics from Cornell University.