Senator Pia Cayetano questions if Filipinos feel gains of upper-middle-income status

Senator Pia Cayetano questioned on Tuesday whether the Philippines' recent classification as an upper-middle-income economy has translated into better lives for ordinary Filipinos, stating that the country's economic milestone rings hollow for families still struggling with poverty and hunger.

Delivering a privilege speech a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA), Cayetano argued that economic progress must be measured not just by macroeconomic indicators, but by whether everyday citizens experience tangible improvements.

"It is very difficult to take pride in and explain that we are an upper-middle-income country when most Filipinos do not actually feel its benefits," Cayetano said.

The senator noted that the World Bank's recent reclassification reflects the total size of the economy rather than the financial reality of individual households. She pointed out that millions of Filipinos remain minimum wage earners, earn below minimum wage, or rely on informal labor, making it nearly impossible for them to share in national economic gains.

Cayetano cited survey data showing that 42 percent of Filipino families consider themselves food-poor, while 23.2 percent experienced involuntary hunger during the first quarter of 2026.

"So when we celebrate our status as an upper-middle-income country, people feel that you do not see us, you do not hear us… You do not feel the hardships we are going through," she said.

The senator added that she has never celebrated the long-anticipated economic milestone, maintaining that statistical designations fail to capture the lived realities of average families.

Cayetano, who chairs the Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals, Innovation, and Futures Thinking, also raised red flags over the nation’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She pointed out that progress has improved on only 10 of the 17 goals since 2015, with eight remaining off track for their 2030 targets.

Worse, she noted, the Philippines has actually regressed in two vital areas: Good Health and Well-Being, and Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Reflecting on the achievements highlighted in the President's SONA, Cayetano closed her speech with a single question: "Are Filipino families truly living better lives?"