Manila, Dec. 18 -- Malacanang has emphasized the importance of data-driven policies in sustaining the country's development gains.

Speaking at the Department of Economy, Planning and Development's (DepDev) 90th anniversary celebration at Crowne Plaza in Quezon City on Thursday, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto cited the country's steady progress in poverty reduction as proof of the value of inclusive, evidence-based planning.

Recto said poverty incidence declined from 23.5 percent a decade ago to 15.5 percent in 2023, adding that the Marcos administration aims to bring poverty down to single-digit levels by 2028.

"We chose to believe that our development should not be dictated by political whims but by data, direction, and discipline," ...