Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 21) — Fewer Filipinos considered themselves poor in the third quarter of 2019, according to an independent pollster.
The Social Weather Stations (SWS) in its latest survey reported that 42 percent of Filipino families, or 10.3 million families, considered themselves poor from the months of July to September 2019.
The pollster noted that up until last quarter, self-rated poverty (SRP) has marked a steady decline. SRP was at 52 percent in the third quarter of 2018, 50 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018, and 38 percent in the first quarter of 2019.
Then it spiked at 45 percent last quarter, or April to June of 2019.
The number of SRP families fell by 3 points in Mindanao to 56 percent, fell by 6 points in Metro Manila to 25 percent, and fell by 6 points to 34 percent in Balance Luzon this quarter.
On the other hand, it rose by 4 points to 59 percent in Visayas this quarter.
Based on figures given by the poorer half of the self-rated poor population, the SWS said that poor households need an average of ₱10,000 monthly to survive. This is lower than the ₱15,000 recorded in June 2019.
Families in Metro Manila need ₱20,000 monthly to survive, those in Balance Luzon need ₱14,000 monthly, and those in Visayas and Mindanao need ₱10,000 monthly.
Meanwhile, approximately 7.1 million families, or around 29 percent, consider themselves to be food poor.
This is lower than the 35 percent recorded Filipino families who considered themselves lacking in food last quarter.
The number of self-rated food poor went down in all areas except in Visayas.
The SWS’ 3rd Quarter 2019 Social Weather Survey polled nationwide 1,800 adults 18 years old and above. The survey had a sampling error margin of ±2.3 percent for national percentages, ±4% each for Balance Luzon and Mindanao, and ±6% each for Metro Manila and the Visayas.
It was conducted from September 27, 2019 to September 30, 2019.
