THE Philippine poverty rate is likely to decline next year as the country's economic prospects continue to improve, the International Workplace Group country manager said Thursday.

'We are seeing a fantastic decline in poverty. This is poverty as defined by a certain number of dollars per day. It's not the perception of people, are you worried about your next meal or being able to feed you, yourself or your family next week. That's not what I'm talking about,' Lars Wittig, who is also Asia Pacific North's vice president, said during The Manila Times Forum held at Lanson Hotel.