SWS: 1 in 3 Filipino families escaped poverty in Q1 of 2018

The Social Weather Stations poll, conducted from March 23 to 27, found that 30% of Filipino families—18% of whom were “usually non-poor” and 12% “newly non-poor”—have escaped poverty. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

A nationwide survey has revealed that one out of three Filipino families escaped poverty during the first quarter of 2018.

The Social Weather Stations (SWS) poll, conducted from March 23 to 27, found that 30% of Filipino families—18% of whom were “usually non-poor” and 12% “newly non-poor”—have escaped poverty.

On the other hand, the same survey found that 12% of Filipino families—about one out of eight families —had fallen into poverty.

“The 30% who transitioned out of poverty consists of 18% who used to be poor five or more years ago (“usually non-poor”), and 12% who used to be poor 1-4 years ago (“newly non-poor”). This is 2 points lower than the record-high 14% newly non-poor recorded in December 2017,” the SWS said in a media release.

In total, the SWS poll found that 58% of Filipino families were now “Self-Rated Non-Poor” while 42% were now “Self-Rated Poor.”

The SWS conducted the survey using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults, aged 18 years old and above, nationwide. The poll has a margin of error of ±3 percent nationwide, ±4 percent for Luzon, and ±6 percent each for Metro Manila, Visayas and Mindanao. /jpv

RELATED STORY

SWS survey says more families ‘transitioned out of poverty’ in 2017