Economist Ray Talimio Jr. expressed disappointment over the country’s upper middle-income status, saying it exists only on paper and does not reflect the reality faced by Filipinos.
In an interview with Bombo Radyo, he noted that the nation’s economic growth dropped from 4.4 percent in 2025 to just 2.8 percent in the first quarter of 2026.
He warned that the Philippines may fail to meet its original growth target of 5 to 6 percent due to the ongoing oil crisis.
Talimio emphasized that the classification does not guarantee effective government performance, especially as citizens continue to struggle.
