Self-rated poverty at record low in 2016

MANILA, Philippines - The annual self-rated poverty rate in the country dropped to 44 percent in 2016, the lowest in 29 years, according to the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey released yesterday.

Last year’s self-rated poverty rate was down six points from 50 percent in 2015, and below the 47 percent registered in 1987, the SWS said.

The pollster noted that self-rated poverty has been either steady or declining for nine consecutive quarters, from 52 percent in December 2014 to 51 percent in March 2015 and June 2015, 50 percent in September 2015 and December 2015, 46 percent in April 2016, 45 percent in June 2016, 42 percent in September 2016 and 44 percent in December 2016.

Self-rated poverty, however, slightly went up in December 2016 compared to the September 2016 figures.

The poll showed that 44 percent (an estimated 10 million families) considered themselves mahirap or poor, two points up from the 42 percent (about 9.4 million families) in September 2016.

Self-rated poverty fell by five points in Metro Manila, from 36 percent in September to 31 percent in December.

It dropped by two points in Mindanao, from 49 percent to 47 percent.

Self-rated poverty in the Visayas stayed at 56 percent from September to December.

However, it rose by eight points in balance Luzon, from 34 percent to 42 percent.

‘Increase due to typhoons’

Malacañang attributed the two-point increase in self-rated poverty, from 42 percent in September 2016 to 44 percent in December, to the typhoons that hit parts of Luzon last year.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said Typhoon Karen damaged thousands of hectares of agricultural lands in the Ilocos, Cordillera and Central Luzon regions.

Typhoon Lawin also destroyed houses and crops and displaced thousands of people in northern Luzon, he said.

“We take note of the survey finding that self-rated poverty rose in balance Luzon. The typhoons that hit Luzon in the latter part of the year may have affected the perception of the respondents,” Andanar said.

Despite the increase in self-rated poverty, Andanar claimed that Filipino families have felt positive change under the Duterte administration.

He said the self-rated poverty hit 44 percent in December 2016 and was at 42 percent during Duterte’s first three months in office.

“These surpassed the previous record low of 47 percent in 1987 during the Cory Aquino administration,” Andanar said.

“For two consecutive quarters, change has been felt by the people when Filipino families who considered themselves poor reached a new record low,” he added.

‘Food-poor’

The 2016 average self-rated food poverty also hit a new record low since 1988, the SWS reported.

It fell to 32 percent last year from 2015’s 35 percent despite the four-point increase in self-rated food poverty in the fourth quarter of 2016. – With Alexis Romero