Self-rated poverty threshold unchanged – SWS

The country’s poor earned only half the minimum income they need monthly to get out of poverty, the first quarter survey of the Social Weather Stations (SWS) shows.

The poll conducted from March 25 to 28 showed the nationwide median Self-Rated Poverty Gap (SRPG) – which refers to the amount the poorer half of the poor lack in order not to consider themselves as such – at P5,000.

This was half their stated self-rated poverty threshold (SRPT) of P10,000 – the minimum monthly budget that poor households need in order not to consider themselves such.

“This has been the case since September 2016,” the SWS said.

The same survey also showed that national median self-rated food poverty Gap (SRFPG), or the amount the poorer half of the food-poor lack in order not to consider their food as such, is P2,000. The self-rated food poverty threshold (SRFPT) – the minimum monthly food budget that poor families need in order not to consider their food as poor – is P5,000. And “this has been the case since December 2016,” the pollster said.

“This means that the poorer half of the poor lack half the amount of money they need to survive,” the SWS added.

Metro Manila’s median SRPT rose to P20,000 this quarter from P18,000 in December. Its median SRPG similarly edged up to P10,000 from P8,000, also a record.

Mindanao has maintained its P10,000 median SRPT since April 2016. Its median SRPG rose to P5,000 from P4,000.

In balance Luzon, the median SRPT stayed at P10,000 and median SRPG likewise steadied at P5,000 from December 2016.

The Visayas has kept median SRPT at P10,000 since December 2014, while median SRPG has stayed at P5,000 since June 2016.

The survey used face-toface interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide.

Gov’t has programs for poor

Malacañang said the Duterte administration has been implementing programs to improve the living standards of the poor.

“Bringing comfortable lives to all is the overarching goal of the Duterte administration,” presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella said in a statement.

Abella cited the higher pension for senior citizens, free medicine for indigents, additional incentives and combat duty pay for police and soldiers and gratuity pay to job order and contract workers in the government.

“Through these initiatives we hope there will be more food on the poor household families’ table,” Abella said.

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