SWS: 42% of Filipino families consider themselves ‘poor’

At least 9.8 million Filipino families believe that they are poor, according to a recent survey by resource firm Social Weather Stations (SWS).

While poverty incidence remains high, the numbers for self-rated poverty (SRP) actually dropped from 44 percent in December 2017, and from 50 percent in a year-on-year basis.  The survey, which was held from March 23 to 27, also showed that the SRP percentage is at its lowest since a similar number in September 2016.

SWS added that the SRP numbers are down nationwide due to a sharp, 10 percent decrease in Mindanao, from 52 percent in December 2017 to 42 percent — the lowest since the 38% rating in December 2011.

This was offset by the two point increase in Metro Manila, and the one-point increase in Visayas, which climbed from 28 to 30 percent and 53 to 54 percent, respectively.

The results also showed that 29 percent or an estimated 6.7 million families also rated their food as “poor,” which is three points below in a quarter-on-quarter basis.

SWS also said that this was the first time that self-rated food poverty numbers went below the 30 percent mark.  SWS started measuring food-poverty since June 1988, during the tenure of late former President Corazon Aquino.

How much is not poor?

Respondents also noted that they need P20,000 for residents in Metro Manila, P10,000 for Balance Luzon and Visayas, and P15,000 in Mindanao to be considered not poor.

The numbers for Luzon and Visayas are the lowest SRP threshold during the tenure of President Rodrigo Duterte.  However, the data for Metro Manila and Mindanao matches the highest recorded SRP threshold during the same period.

SWS said that its March 2018 survey results were obtained using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adult Filipinos, questioning 300 individuals for each locale.  Respondents were asked to classify their families into categories of “hindi mahirap (not poor)”; “nasa linya (on the line)”; and “mahirap (poor).” /je