By: Ellalyn V. Ruiz
More Filipino families have considered themselves poor, according to the third quarter Social Weather Stations survey.
The nationwide survey conducted last Sept. 23 to 27 with 1,500 respondents found out that 47 percent or an estimated 10.9 million families considered themselves “mahirap” or poor, up three percentage points from 44 percent or about 10.1 million in June.
It also found out that the proportion of poor families has increased significantly from 44 percent in December 2016 to 50 percent in March 2017.
Prior to the September 2017 survey, it had been either steady or declining for nine consecutive quarters, from the fourth quarter of 2014 to the fourth quarter of 2016.
Self-rated poverty increased by 16 points in the rest of Luzon, from 34 percent in June 2017 to 50 percent in September 2017. This is similar to the 50 percent in March 2017.
It rose by three points in Metro Manila, from 28 percent in June to 31 percent in September. This was previously surpassed by the 36 percent in March 2017.
However, it decreased by 12 points in Mindanao, from 57 percent in June to 45 percent in September. This is the lowest rate of self-rated poverty in Mindanao since the record-low 38 percent in December 2011.
It also decreased by eight points in Visayas, from 64 percent in June to 56 percent in September. Prior to June 2017, it ranged from 52 to 57 percent since April 2016.
