FEWER FILIPINOS CONSIDER THEMSELVES POOR – SWS

Self-rated poverty rate has been decreasing since the Marcos rule ended in 1985 Fewer Filipinos considered themselves poor in 2016, according to the results of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) Fourth Quarter Survey.

The survey, conducted among 1,500 respondents nationwide from December 3 to 6, 2016, showed that 44 percent considered themselves poor. The figure was two percentage points higher than the 42 percent reported in the third quarter, but still a “record low” compared to 50 percent in December 2015 and the 74 percent recorded at the end of the Marcos rule in July 1985.

The self-rated poverty rate has been decreasing since 1985.

For last quarter, it was flat at 56 percent in the Visayas. It was lower by two percentage points in Mindanao, down to 47 percent from 49 percent in the previous quarter as well as in Metro Manila, lower by five percentage points to 31 percent in December last year from 36 percent in the third quarter.

It was higher, however, by eight percentage points in Balance Luzon to 42 percent in the fourth quarter from 34 percent in September.

The same survey also found that 34 percent considered themselves as food-poor based on the type of food they eat. This was four percentage points higher than the 30 percent recorded in September last year.

This was due to increases of eight, seven and three percentage points in Balance Luzon (32 percent from a record-low 24 percent in September), Visayas (43 percent from 36 percent), and Metro Manila (23 percent from 20 percent), respectively.

A four-percentage point decrease was recorded in Mindanao to 37 percent from September’s 41 percent.

In a statement, Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said “Change has indeed come, and it is being felt by our people.”

He blamed the higher rating in Balance Luzon on the “stronger-than usual typhoons that hit Luzon towards the later part of the year which may have affected the perception of our respondents.” /