14 million Filipino families consider themselves poor — SWS | #INQToday

INQUIRER.net

8 May 202301:29

Summary

TLDRA Social Weather Station survey from the first quarter of 2023 indicates that 51% of Filipino families, equating to 14 million, consider themselves poor. This is a rise from December 2022's figure. Around 30% were classified as 'borderline poor,' while 19% claimed not to be poor. The self-rated poverty threshold for Metro Manila increased from 15,000 pesos in December 2022 to 20,000 pesos in March 2023, reflecting the minimum monthly budget families believe they need to avoid poverty.

Takeaways

📊 A Social Weather Station (SWS) survey indicates that 51% of Filipino families considered themselves poor in the first quarter of 2023.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 This equates to approximately 14 million families who rated themselves as poor during the same period.
📉 The percentage of families who see themselves as 'borderline poor' stands at about 30%.
🏡 19% of families reported that they were not poor as of December 2022.
📈 The number of self-rated poor families increased to 51% or around 12.9 million families in December 2022, according to SWS.
🏙️ In Metro Manila, the self-rated poverty threshold increased from 15,000 pesos in December 2022 to 20,000 pesos in March 2023.
💰 The self-rated poverty threshold represents the minimum monthly budget that poor families believe they need to avoid considering themselves poor.
📉 The survey results are in anticipation of the national estimates by the Philippine Statistics Authority and medium population projections for 2023.
📰 The report was filed by John Eric Mendoza for inquirer.net.

Q & A

What was the percentage of Filipino families who considered themselves poor in the first quarter of 2023 according to the Social Weather Station (SWS) survey?
-According to the SWS survey, an estimated 51 percent or 14 million families rated themselves as poor in the first quarter of 2023.
How does the SWS define 'borderline poor' families?
-About 30 percent of families in the survey found themselves 'borderline poor,' which implies they are near the threshold of considering themselves poor.
What percentage of families in the survey claimed they were not poor in December 2022?
-In December 2022, 19 percent of the families said they were not poor.
What was the estimated number of self-rated poor families in the Philippines according to the December 2022 SWS survey?
-The SWS reported that there were 51 percent or around 12.9 million self-rated poor families in the country in December 2022.
What is the role of the Philippine Statistics Authority in relation to the SWS survey?
-The national estimates from the SWS survey are awaited by the Philippine Statistics Authority for medium population projections for 2023.
How much did the self-rated poverty threshold in Metro Manila increase from December 2022 to March 2023?
-The self-rated poverty threshold in Metro Manila leaped from 15,000 pesos in December 2022 to 20,000 pesos in March 2023.
What is the significance of the self-rated poverty threshold mentioned in the report?
-The self-rated poverty threshold represents the minimum monthly budget that poor families say they need for household expenses to not consider themselves poor.
What was the source of the information provided in the transcript?
-The information was reported by John Eric Mendoza for inquirer.net.
How does the SWS survey measure poverty levels among families?
-The SWS survey measures poverty levels by asking families to self-rate their economic status, categorizing them as poor, borderline poor, or not poor.
What is the implication of the increase in the self-rated poverty threshold in Metro Manila?
-The increase in the self-rated poverty threshold in Metro Manila suggests that the cost of living has risen, and families require more income to meet their basic needs and not consider themselves poor.
How does the SWS survey data contribute to understanding the economic conditions in the Philippines?
-The SWS survey data provides a snapshot of the perceived economic well-being of Filipino families, which can be used by policymakers and researchers to assess poverty levels and inform economic policies.

Outlines

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📊 2023 Poverty Assessment in the Philippines

A Social Weather Station survey from the first quarter of 2023 indicates that 51% of Filipino families, equating to approximately 14 million, consider themselves poor. This figure has remained consistent with the December 2022 data. The survey also distinguishes that around 30% of families are 'borderline poor,' while 19% do not see themselves as poor. The national estimates are anticipated by the Philippine Statistics Authority, which uses medium population projections for 2023. A significant finding is the increase in the self-rated poverty threshold in Metro Manila, which jumped from 15,000 pesos in December 2022 to 20,000 pesos in March 2023. This threshold represents the minimum monthly budget that families believe they need to not consider themselves poor. The report was filed by John Eric Mendoza for inquirer.net.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Social Weather Station (SWS)

The Social Weather Station (SWS) is an organization that conducts surveys in the Philippines. In the context of the video, it is the source of the data regarding poverty levels in the first quarter of 2023. SWS helps in measuring public perception on various socio-economic issues, such as poverty in this case.

💡Self-rated poverty

Self-rated poverty refers to the perception of poverty by families themselves, where they assess their own financial situation. In the video, 51 percent of Filipino families considered themselves poor in the first quarter of 2023, reflecting their own subjective experiences of financial hardship.

💡Poverty threshold

The poverty threshold is the minimum amount of money a household needs for its expenses in order to not be considered poor. In Metro Manila, this threshold increased from 15,000 pesos in December 2022 to 20,000 pesos in March 2023, highlighting rising costs of living. The threshold is a key factor in understanding financial stress on households.

💡Metro Manila

Metro Manila is the capital region of the Philippines and a densely populated urban area. In the context of the video, poverty data is specifically mentioned for this region, with an increase in the self-rated poverty threshold, indicating economic challenges faced by families living in the urban area.

💡Filipino families

Filipino families are the central focus of the survey, as the video discusses how these families perceive their own economic status. About 51 percent of Filipino families rated themselves as poor, reflecting widespread economic hardship.

💡First quarter of 2023

The first quarter of 2023 is the time period during which the Social Weather Station survey was conducted. It is significant because it shows a snapshot of economic conditions and perceptions of poverty in the country during this period.

💡Borderline poor

Borderline poor refers to families that do not consider themselves fully impoverished but are close to the poverty threshold. About 30 percent of families fell into this category, indicating that they are at risk of falling into poverty with any slight financial changes.

💡Philippine Statistics Authority

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) provides official population projections, which were used to weight the national estimates of the survey. The PSA ensures that the survey data is reflective of the larger population, making it a credible source for socio-economic analysis.

💡Household expenses

Household expenses refer to the essential costs that families need to cover each month, such as food, utilities, and housing. The rising poverty threshold in Metro Manila reflects the increasing burden of these expenses on families, pushing more people into financial hardship.

💡Inquirer.net

Inquirer.net is a Philippine news website that covered the report discussed in the video. It plays a role in disseminating information about the results of the SWS survey, contributing to public awareness about the economic situation in the country.

Highlights

Half of Filipino families considered themselves poor in the first quarter of 2023 according to a Social Weather Station (SWS) survey.

The percentage of families rating themselves as poor was 51%, equating to approximately 14 million families.

In December 2022, 30% of families were found to be borderline poor.

19% of families reported that they were not poor in December 2022.

The SWS reported 51% or around 12.9 million self-rated poor families in the country.

The national estimates were awaited by the Philippine Statistics Authority medium population projections for 2023.

The Metro Manila self-rated poverty threshold increased from 15,000 pesos in December 2022 to 20,000 pesos in March 2023.

The self-rated poverty threshold represents the minimum monthly budget that poor families claim they need for household expenses.

The survey results are significant for understanding the economic conditions and living standards of Filipino families.

The increase in the poverty threshold indicates a rise in the cost of living or a change in the perceived necessities for a family to not consider themselves poor.

The data provides insights into the economic challenges faced by the Filipino population.

The SWS survey serves as a tool for monitoring and assessing poverty levels in the Philippines.

The findings may influence social and economic policies aimed at poverty alleviation.

The report by John Eric Mendoza highlights the importance of regular assessments of poverty levels.

The survey results are a call to action for stakeholders to address the root causes of poverty.

The data can be used to compare poverty levels across different regions within the Philippines.

The SWS survey provides a baseline for future studies on poverty and economic well-being.

The report underscores the need for targeted interventions to support families classified as poor or borderline poor.