The number of Filipino families who consider themselves poor decreased to 10.3 million households in the second quarter of 2012, based on the latest survey conducted by the Social Weather Stations (SWS).
During the May 24 to 27 survey period, SWS found that 51 percent or about 10.3 million families rated themselves as poor, down from 55 percent or 11.1 million households in March.
The nationwide survey, first published on BusinessWorld, used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 respondents.
The respondents were asked: "Where would you place your family in this card?" A card with words "not poor," "on the line," and "poor" were shown to the respondents.
Self-rated poverty is highest in Mindanao with 65 percent, followed by Visayas (57 percent), rest of Luzon (43 percent), and 41 percent in Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, the survey found that self-rated poverty is higher in the rural areas (61 percent) than in the urban areas (42 percent).
It also found that self-rated food poverty or those who said they are food-poor decreased from 45 to 39 percent (9.1 million families to 7.9 million families).
For self-rated food poverty, the respondents were asked: "Tungkol naman sa klase ng pagkain ng pamilya ninyo, saan po ninyo ilalagay ang inyong pamilya sa kard na ito?" ("Based on the type of food eaten by your family, where would you place your family on this card?") A similar showcard with the choices 'hindi mahirap' (not poor), "sa linya" (on the line), "mahirap" (poor) was shown to the respondent.
Self-rated food poverty is highest in Mindanao with 53 percent, followed by 46 percent in the Visayas, 32 percent in the rest of Luzon and 25 percent in Metro Manila
The median poverty threshold for poor families in Metro Manila increased from P12,000 to P15,000, and in the Visayas and Mindanao to P10,000 (from P8,000 and P7,000, respectively).
Meanwhile, the amount declined from P 10,000 to P9,000 in the rest of Luzon.
It also showed that median food-poverty thresholds increased to P7,000 from P6,500 in Metro Manila and to P5,000 in Mindanao and the Visayas from P4,000 and P4,500, respectively.
However, it decreased to P4,500 from P5,000 in the rest of Luzon.
