Number of poor Pinoy families hits new record low — SWS

MANILA, Philippines — The number of Filipino families who consider themselves “poor” and “food-poor” fell to a new record low in the first quarter of the year, according to the latest survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).

Thirty-eight percent or around 9.5 million families rated themselves poor or mahirap in March 2019, down 12 points from 50 percent or an estimated 11.6 million households in December last year.

The new self-rated poverty was also four points below the previous record-low of 42 percent in September 2016.

Malacañang regarded the survey results as another breakthrough for the administration.

“The Duterte administration continues to break barriers,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said.

“We underscore that self-rated poverty decreased in all geographic areas during the first quarter of 2019,” he added.

Panelo also gave credit to everyone from the President’s economic managers, as well as the members of the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cabinet Cluster, to the social welfare officers and barangay health workers “for tirelessly making a positive impact on the socioeconomic lives of our countrymen.” 

“This, notwithstanding the divisive and destructive political propaganda war waged by the President’s critics and detractors during the campaign period for the midterm elections when the survey was conducted,” he said.

Poverty reduction efforts, particularly those designed for the lowest rung of society, remain on track, he said. 

“We aim to reduce poverty from 21.6 percent in 2015 to 14 percent in 2022, which is equivalent to lifting about six million Filipinos out of poverty by the end of the President’s term. And we will grind daily to reach this goal,” Panelo said.

The SWS survey was conducted from March 28 to 31, using face-to-face interviews of 1,440 adults, 18 years old and above, nationwide.

The pollster said self-rated poverty dropped in all areas, particularly in balance Luzon where it fell by 16 points.

In balance Luzon, it fell from 51 percent in December to 35 percent in March 2019.

It also declined in Mindanao to a new record-low 37 percent from 49 percent previously.

It dropped from 61 percent to 55 percent in the Visayas; and from 30 percent to 28 percent in Metro Manila.

Self-rated food poor – or those who rate their food as mahirap or poor – also fell to a new record-low 27 percent (about 6.8 million families) in March 2019 from 34 percent (an estimated 7.9 million families) in December 2018.

Self-rated food poor decreased by 11 points in Mindanao, from 38 percent in December 2018 to a new record-low 27 percent in March 2019. This surpassed the previous record of 30 percent in December 2011.

It fell in balance Luzon, from 31 percent to 24 percent in March, matching the record-low achieved in September 2016 and March 2018.

It dropped in Metro Manila, from 22 percent in December to 19 percent in March. This was the lowest since the 18 percent registered in March 2018.

Self-rated food poor also declined in the Visayas, from 44 percent to 42 percent. This was the lowest since the 32 percent recorded in December 2017, SWS said.  – Christina Mendez