MANILA, Philippines – Around 12.6 million Filipino families considered themselves poor in the first few months of the Marcos administration, according to the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS). 

SWS said 49% or an estimated 12.6 million Filipino families considered themselves poor in the third quarter of 2022. It is slightly higher than the June 2022 survey figures at 48% or around 12.2 million Filipino families. 

The figures are higher from the September 2021 survey, where 45% or about 11.4 million Filipino families considered themselves poor.

SWS noted that the rise in the number of self-rated poor families was due to “slight increases” in Metro Manila (from 41% to 44%), Visayas (from 64% to 68%), and Mindanao (from 62% to 64%). Luzon remains steady at 36%. 

The October 2022 survey also found that 7.7% or around 2 million self-rated poor families were “newly poor” or those who feel that they were not poor at least one to four years ago. 

The survey was conducted from  September 29 to October 2 through face-to-face interviews with 1,500 Filipinos – 300 each in Metro Manila, Visayas, Mindanao, and 600 in Luzon. 

The error margins for the survey are at ±2.5% for national percentages, ±5.7% each for Metro Manila, Visayas, Mindanao, and ±4.0% for Luzon.

Self-rated food poverty

Meanwhile, Filipino families who rated themselves food poor remained steady at around 8.7 million between June and October. However, the figure remains higher than the estimated 7.9 million in an SWS survey conducted in April. 

Self-rated food poverty rose during the third quarter in Metro Manila (from 31% to 33%), Visayas (from 37% to 44%), and Mindanao (from 31% to 33%).

Meanwhile, Luzon saw a decline in self-rated food poverty from 28% to 22%. 

The figures came as inflation jumped as high as 6.9% in September.

A recent Pulse Asia survey also found that around 42% of Filipinos disapproved of the Marcos administration’s performance in reining in the rising prices of goods. – Rappler.com