Welcome to the ‘United States of Makati,’ where family income is PH’s highest – and most unequal

RapplerIndependentCenteryesterday

Makati City in the Philippines has earned the nickname 'United States of Makati' due to its exceptionally high average family income of P796,990 annually, the highest among urban areas in the country. Despite this wealth, the city experiences significant income inequality, reflected in a Gini coefficient of 0.4569. Makati's economy is heavily driven by a concentration of businesses and offices, generating a GDP of P1.2 trillion in 2024. However, much of the workforce resides outside the city, which complicates the perception of its overall affluence. The Department of Tourism has promoted Makati as a visa-free destination for various activities, highlighting its economic significance.

Bias read (Center): The article presents factual economic data and contextualizes Makati's status as both the wealthiest and most unequal city in the Philippines. It avoids overtly biased language, provides balanced information on income disparity and economic contributions, and includes references to official sources.