Only 2 out of 1,000 Filipino families lifted out of poverty between 2006-2009

MANILA, Philippines – Only two out of 1,000 Filipino families were lifted out of poverty between 2006 and 2009, according to a National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) survey released yesterday.

The NSCB report showed a slight reduction in the poverty rate from 21.1 percent in 2006 to 20.9 percent in 2009.

While there was a decrease in the general poverty rate from 2006 to 2009, in terms of poverty incidence among population there was a very slight increase from 26.4 percent in 2006 to 26.5 percent in 2009, the NSCB said.

“In terms of the magnitude of poor families, there was an increase of about 185,000 from 3.67 million in 2006 to 3.86 million in 2009. On the other hand, the magnitude of poor population increased by almost 970,000 Filipinos from 22.2 million in 2006 to 23.1 in 2009,” it said.

Meanwhile, the magnitude of subsistence poor families decreased by about 58,000 from 1.51 million in 2006 to 1.45 million in 2009.

“This means that one family per 100 was lifted out of food poverty between 2006 and 2009,” the agency noted.

Moreover, subsistence incidence among the population improved from 11.7 percent in 2006 to 10.8 percent in 2009.

NSCB said both food and poverty thresholds – the minimum level of income necessary to achieve an adequate standard of living – increased by 26 percent from 2006 to 2009, compared to only 22 percent between 2003 and 2006.  – With Iris Gonzales –Helen Flores (The Philippine Star)