NSSC12 focuses on issues of poverty and national development, as they remain among the Philippines’ most persistent and complex challenges, cutting across economic, social, cultural, geographical, environmental, and political dimensions.

Poverty is a “multidimensional condition that deprives people of essential capabilities, rather than simply a lack of income” (Balisacan and Hill, 2003; Balisacan, 2015). Agreeing that poverty is not simply resource deprivation, Walker (2015) argues that it is “also the multiple consequences of the (e.g., absence of income or resources) that are simultaneously experienced by people”. Recent studies indicate that poverty is now conceived as more multidimensional and extends beyond the notion of income poverty. Empirical research says that income is not a sufficient proxy for multidimensional poverty as multiple non-economic factors must be accounted for in the analysis (Burchi, Rippin, Montenegro, 2018). Some of these factors and dimensions include “limited access to education, health care, housing, clean water, sanitation, nutritious food, social protection and opportunities for social and economic participation” (Zulkifli & Abidin, 2023). In effect, poverty must now be understood more broadly than income deprivation and must be viewed within the context of the lack of capabilities of people, structural constraints to their growth and development, and the interrelated dimensions of material and nonmaterial poverty. Poverty is also intertwined with discourses of (under)development, in which the social sciences play a crucial role in understanding these fields of inquiry.

The conference theme underscores the critical role of the social sciences in deepening our understanding of poverty’s multidimensional nature and social dimensions, encompassing education, health, housing, governance, and social inclusion, among others. By integrating diverse disciplinary perspectives and ways of seeing, NSSC12 seeks to generate critical insights, evidence-based policies, and community-driven strategies that advance inclusive development and human well-being. What narratives underlie the government statistics? How is public discontent experienced and expressed? How do the Filipino people view their own condition of essential capabilities? What policies are needed to accelerate the reduction of poverty?

For instance, in 2023, official government statistics indicate that the Philippines recorded a national poverty incidence rate of 15.5%, reflecting a 3 percentage point reduction from 2021. While this marks measurable progress, the figure remains above the government’s 2025 target of 13.2%. Moreover, the government’s stated goal of reducing poverty to 9 per cent by 2028 warrants closer scrutiny, given the current trajectory and pace of poverty reduction. Further complicating this picture, a September 2025 Social Weather Stations (SWS, 2025) household survey found that at least 14.2 million Filipino families, or half of all households, considered themselves “poor.” The gap between official poverty statistics and self-assessed poverty highlights the need for deeper inquiry into the structural, economic, and perceptual factors shaping poverty in the Philippines, in order to more effectively address its lived realities.

The Philippine government, through its AmBisyon Natin 2040, aims that the “Philippines shall be a prosperous, predominantly middle-class society where no one is poor. Our peoples will enjoy long and healthy lives, are smart and innovative, and will live in a high-trust society” (DEPDev, n.d.). This long-term vision is operationalized by the government through various five-year development plans that seek to bolster national development, economic growth, social transformation, and poverty reduction.

As the Philippine Development Plan (2023-2028) nears its end and the AmBisyon 2040 deadline approaches, the roots of Philippine poverty and underdevelopment remain a puzzle for researchers, scholars, government officials, civil society partners, and stakeholders. NSSC12 aims to (re)examine poverty by bringing together various sectors–scholars, policymakers, and stakeholders–to a fruitful three-day dialogue on the realities and complexities of poverty and development.

In particular, the NSSC12 seeks to look into the current state of poverty in the country by featuring recent empirical studies and theoretical papers that interrogate the nature, dynamics, and extent of poverty in the Philippines. Second, the NSSC12 shall serve as a forum for researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to assess and propose policy recommendations to inform the government’s strategy to ensure AmBisyon 2040, implement and improve the Philippine Development Plan, and help the country escape the middle-income trap. Lastly, it seeks to provide an interactive platform among social scientists to re-examine poverty—its enduring challenges, evolving approaches, and emerging pathways for social science perspectives.