More Filipinos have rated themselves as “mahirap” or poor in the third quarter of 2024, based on the Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted from Sept. 14 to 23.

In its report released on Wednesday, Oct. 9, SWS found that 59 percent of Filipino families consider themselves poor, 13 percent identify as “borderline” (placing themselves between poor and not poor), and 28 percent rate themselves as “hindi mahirap” or not poor.

The percentage of families identifying as poor increased to 59 percent in September 2024 (approximately 16.3 million families), from 58 percent (about 16 million households) in June 2024.

SWS said this is the highest level of self-rated poverty since June 2008.

2.5 million families ‘newly poor’

During the September survey, SWS asked the self-rated poor families if they had ever been non-poor (either not poor or borderline). 

The results showed that 9.1 percent had been non-poor one to four years ago (newly poor), 8.1 percent had been non-poor five or more years ago (usually poor), and 41.5 percent had never experienced being non-poor (always poor).

Of the estimated 16.3 million self-rated poor families in September, 2.5 million were newly poor, 2.3 million were usually poor, and 11.5 million were always poor.

Conversely, the survey also asked self-rated non-poor families (either borderline or not poor) if they had ever experienced being poor.

Among these households, 14.4 percent had been poor one to four years ago (newly non-poor), 12.3 percent had been poor five or more years ago (usually non-poor), and 14.5 percent had never been poor (always non-poor).

Of the estimated 11.5 million self-rated non-poor families in September 2024, 4 million were newly non-poor, 3.4 million were usually non-poor, and 4 million were always non-poor.

Poverty rises in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon; declines elsewhere

SWS attributed the one-point rise in nationwide self-rated poverty from June to September to a sharp increase in Metro Manila, combined with a slight increase in Balance Luzon, or Luzon outside Metro Manila, and slight decreases in the Visayas and Mindanao.

In September, self-rated poverty was highest in Mindanao at 67 percent, followed by the Visayas at 62 percent, Balance Luzon at 55 percent, and Metro Manila at 52 percent.

Compared to June, self-rated poverty rose by 13 points in Metro Manila (from 39 percent), and by three points in Balance Luzon (from 52 percent). 

Meanwhile, it fell by five points in the Visayas (from 67 percent), and four points in Mindanao (from 71 percent).

Poverty threshold falls in Metro Manila, Mindanao

SWS pointed out that the national median self-rated poverty threshold (SRP Threshold) fell to P12,000 in September after staying at P15,000 for 10 quarters, from April 2022 to June 2024. 

The SRP Threshold, representing the minimum monthly budget that self-rated poor families believe they need for basic home expenses, has remained sluggish for several years despite significant inflation.

This suggests that poor families have been lowering their living standards, and engaging in belt-tightening measures.

Meanwhile, SWS said the national median self-rated poverty gap (SRP Gap) fell from P6,000 to P5,000.

In Metro Manila, the median SRP Threshold fell from P20,000 in June 2024 to P18,000 in September 2024, while the median SRP Gap rose from P6,000 to P8,000.

In Balance Luzon, the median SRP Threshold stayed at P15,000, while the median SRP Gap fell from P6,000 to P5,000.

In the Visayas, the median SRP Threshold stayed at P10,000, while the median SRP Gap stayed at P5,000.

In Mindanao, the median SRP Threshold fell from P12,000 to P10,000, while the median SRP Gap fell from P6,000 to P5,000.

SWS explained that, historically, the median SRP Gap has generally been half of the median SRP Threshold. 

This means that typical poor families are short by about half of what they need to avoid considering themselves poor. 

An increase in the proportion of the median SRP Gap relative to the median SRP Threshold means a worsening in families’ budget for home expenses.

The Third Quarter 2024 Social Weather Survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with 1,500 adults aged 18 and older nationwide.