Self-rated poverty, hunger down in Q1 - survey

Around 11.1 million Filipino families considered themselves poor in the first quarter of the year, a slight drop from 11.9 million at the end of 2023, an OCTA Research group survey showed.

- JANVIC MATEO

From 45 percent in December 2023, self-rated poverty dropped to 42 percent in the March 11 to 14 survey.

Only 12 percent rated their families "not poor," while 47 percent said they cannot say if they are poor or not.

The decrease in self-rated poverty was due to a 10-point drop among respondents in balance Luzon, combined with a slight increase in Mindanao and stable numbers in Metro Manila and the Visayas.

Self-rated poverty remained highest among those in Mindanao at 71 percent (from 68 percent), followed by the Visayas at 47 percent (similar to the previous survey), Metro Manila at 29 percent (from 28 percent) and the rest of Luzon at 28 percent (from 38 percent).