SWS: 50% of Filipino families see themselves as poor

MANILA, Philippines — Half of Filipino families perceive themselves as poor, according to a survey from the Social Weather Survey (SWS) published on Thursday, October 30. 

This is a one-point increase from the self-rated poverty (SRP) that the SWS recorded in June, which was at 49%. 

The current SRP rate translates to around 14.2 million families in September, compared to June’s 13.7 million. 

Meanwhile, 12% of Filipino families are on the borderline in September, a two point increase from June. Families who do not see themselves as poor reached 38% in September, a three point decline from 41% in June. 

The slight increase in SRP is attributed to movements across the regions in September, broken down as follows: 

• Metro Manila: 43% (from 36%)    
• Balance Luzon: 42% (from 38%)   
• Visayas: 54% (from 60%) 
• Mindanao: 69% (retained) 

The SWS noted that around 5.7% of Filipino families are classified as “newly poor”. This means that they did not consider themselves poor one to four years ago, but they consider themselves impoverished as of September. 

Meanwhile, the SWS found that the self-rated food poverty among families was retained at 41%, remaining unchanged since April. 

A total of 10% Filipino families are borderline food poor, and those who were not food poor comprised 47% of the pool. 

Here are the self-rated food poverty rates broken down per area, as of September, compared to the June rates: 

• Metro Manila: 35% (31%)  
• Balance Luzon: 34% (retained)
• Visayas: 40%  (from 44%) 
• Mindanao: 61% (from 60%)

The SWS based this report on a survey conducted from September 24 to 30 using face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults: 300 of them from Metro Manila, 600 from Balance Luzon, 300 from Visayas and another 300 from Mindanano. 

The survey has an error margin of ±3 for national rates.