SWS survey: More households poor, hungry at the end of 2013

MANILA, Philippines – The Social Weather Stations(SWS) conducted its 4^th quarter nationwide survey on self-rated poverty and self-rated food poverty and the results showed an increase in Filipino households considering themselves poor at the end of 2013.

55% of the respondents (11.8 million households) consider themselves poor, while 41% (8.8 million households) consider themselves poor in terms of food. The results showed a slight increase from the 3^rd quarter survey where self-rated poverty was 50% and self-rated food poverty was 37%.

The increase in poverty was seen across all regions except for Mindanao, which actually showed a two-point decrease in self-rated poverty (59% from 61%). Metro Manila yielded a two-point increase at 46%, the balance of Luzon increased by 8 points at 50%, and Visayas rose 6 points to 68%.

In terms of being food poor, Metro Manila respondents said 32% of households were hungry. 36% in the balance of Luzon, 52% in the Visayas, and 47% in Mindanao also said they were hungry.

With the results of the 4^th quarter survey in, the year average of poor and food-poor households across the nation in 2013 stood at 52% and 39%, respectively. These figures are not drastically different from the 2012 averages, which showed poverty also at 52% and hunger at 41%.

The SWS surveyed a total of 1,550 adults via face-to-face interviews across Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. The results were then weighted against the National Statistics Office population projections for 2013 to get national estimates. 

The results of the SWS survey were first published in BusinessWorld. – Rappler.com