AN institute for development studies has called for the protection of the 'vulnerable' middle-class Filipinos, noting that near-poor Filipinos, or those just above the poverty line, continue to experience persistent poverty.

The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) made the call during its launch of the 22nd Development Policy Research Month (DPRM) recently, where it recommended actions to address the issue, which include social protection for the near-poor, inclusive growth policies, and building household resilience with disaster preparedness, financial access and market protections.