17.4M families see themselves poor – survey
The number of Filipino families who rated themselves as poor rose for the third time, numbering to about 17.4 million, the December 12 to 18 survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.
The survey, which involved 2,160 adults nationwide and had a margin of error of ±2 percent, showed that 63 percent of Filipino families rated themselves as poor, up from 59 percent in September, 58 percent in June and 46 percent in March.
The SWS said 11 percent rated their families as borderline poor (down from 13 percent in September) while 26 percent said they are not poor (down from 28 percent).
The results also showed that the self-rated poor families was highest in Mindanao at 76 percent (up from 67 percent in September), followed by the Visayas at 74 percent (up from 62 percent), Luzon at 55 percent (unchanged), and Metro Manila at 51 percent (down from 52 percent).
The survey firm said a family needs to spend at least P10,000 a month (down from P12,000) in order for them not to be considered poor.
In Metro Manila, the monthly income should be P20,000 (up from P18,000) in order not to be considered as poor; P10,000 (down from P15,000) in Luzon; and P10,000 each (both unchanged) in the Visayas and Mindanao.
SWS also found that 51 percent of Filipinos rated their families as food-poor (up from 46 percent in September), while 13 percent (down from 17 percent) said they are borderline food-poor and 36 percent (down from 37 percent) are not food-poor.
Those who claimed to be food-poor were highest in Mindanao at 68 percent (up from 61 percent), followed by those from the Visayas at 61 percent (up from 49 percent), Luzon with 42 percent (up from 39 percent), and Metro Manila at 39 percent (unchanged).
A family needs to spend at least P6,000 a month (down from P7,000) in order for them not to be considered as food-poor.
In Metro Manila, the monthly income to be spent on food should be at least P10,000 (unchanged) in order not to be considered as poor; P6,000 (down from P7,500) in Luzon; and P5,000 each (both unchanged) in the Visayas and Mindanao.
