Fewer families rate selves poor, but more claim food poverty – SWS

Fewer Filipino families considered themselves poor in the second quarter of 2013, but more claimed to be food-poor during the same period, according to a new survey by pollster Social Weather Stations.

The SWS said its survey conducted from June 28 to 30 showed 49 percent of 1,200 adults – or 10.4 million households – said they were poor, while 40 percent – or 8.5 million families – said they were food-poor.

The 49-percent figure was an improvement from the 52-percent self-rated poverty level in March, when some 10.6 million families rated themselves poor.

However, the June survey also showed more families – 8.5 million – consider themselves food-poor in June compared to March’s 39 percent or 7.9 million.

The self-rated food poverty eased everywhere except in Balance Luzon.

Also, the SWS noted the latest figures on poverty and food poverty were improvements from the averages in 2012 at 52 and 41 percent respectively.

Self-rated poverty

SWS said self-rated poverty fell the most in the Visayas at 57 percent, eight percentage points below March.

This was a level last seen in May 2012. A rating of over 60 percent was seen in seven of the last 12 surveys.

In Mindanao, self-rated poverty fell six points to 47 percent, the lowest since 38 percent in December 2010, and 20 points below the 2012 average for Mindanao.

Self-rated poverty eased by two points in Metro Manila to 40 percent and Balance Luzon to 48 percent. Both areas were above 40 percent in eight out of the last 12 surveys.

The self-rated poverty had been above 40 percent in nine out of 12 polls for Balance Luzon.

Self-rated food poverty

The SWS said self-rated food poverty fell to 39 percent in Mindanao, and fell to 44 percent in the Visayas.

There was a slight improvement in Metro Manila numbers to 27 percent from 28 percent.

On the other hand, self-rated food poverty rose by six points to 42 percent in Balance Luzon.

SWS said Mindanao’s self-rated food poverty was 17 points lower, while its was five points lower in the Visayas.

Belt-tightening

Meanwhile, the SWS noted poor families still engaged in belt-tightening or were still lowering their living standards.

It noted the self-rated poverty threshold, or the monthly budget needed so as not to considered poor in general “has been sluggish” despite inflation.

The SWS noted the median threshold or the monthly budget that would “satisfy the poorer half of the poor households” fell to P12,000 in Metro Manila and P8,000 in the Visayas.

It stayed at P8,000 in Balance Luzon and Mindanao.

On the other hand, the median self-rated food poverty threshold fell to P6,000 in Metro Manila and P4,000 in the Visayas.

It stayed at P4,000 in Mindanao, and rose to P5,000 in Balance Luzon.

SWS added the latest poverty and food poverty thresholds “have been surpassed in the past for all areas.”

The SWS cited the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB)’s 2012 poverty survey showing a family of five needed P5,458 a month to meet basic food needs.

It noted one out of 10 families was so poor they could not meet the amount.

For basic food and non-food needs such as clothing, housing and transportation, the NSCB said a family of five needed P7,821 a month. Two out of 10 families could not meet this.

The SWS survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide. It has an error margin of ±3% for national and ±6% for area percentages. — DVM, GMA News