Philippine poverty falls to record low, but many still feel insecure

The Philippines has cut its official poverty rate to below 10 per cent for the first time, a milestone officials hailed as proof that millions of Filipinos are climbing the economic ladder. Yet for families like Vhan Castro’s, there is a big difference between being officially counted as middle class and actually feeling financially secure. The 34-year-old earns an average of 40,000 pesos (US$650) a month for his family of four through a patchwork of side hustles – from renting out a van for...