PH income upgrade not proof of broad-based progress – groups

The Philippines' new status as an upper-middle-income country by the World Bank has sparked debate, with labor and research groups cautioning that this upgrade doesn't accurately represent the ongoing struggles of millions of Filipinos still living in poverty. Organizations like Anakpawis Party-list and IBON Foundation argue that the economic progress seen in the statistics doesn't reflect the lived realities of the majority. This highlights a significant gap between economic growth metrics and the everyday experiences of many people, suggesting deeper issues in the country's economic policies and social welfare systems.