2.5M ‘newly poor’ Filipino families in September 2024 – SWS

Around 2.5 million Filipino families considered themselves as “newly poor” in September 2024, that is, those who were once non-poor who have fallen into poverty in the last one to four years, according to the latest Social Weather Survey (SWS).

Preliminary data from SWS showed that of the estimated 16.3 million self-rated poor families last month, 2.5 million (or 9.1%) were “newly poor,” 2.3 million (or 8.1%) were “usually poor,” and 11.5 million (41.5%) were “always poor.”

Conversely, of the estimated 11.5 million families who rated themselves as non-poor, 4.0 million (or 14.4%) were “newly non-poor,” 3.4 million (or 12.3%) were “usually non-poor,” and 4.0 million (or 14.5%) were “always non-poor” or have never experienced being in poverty.

The SWS found a sharp increase of self-rated poverty in Metro Manila. 

“Compared to June 2024, self-rated poverty rose by 13 points in Metro Manila from 39%, and by three points in Balance Luzon from 52%,” the SWS said.

“However, it fell slightly by five points in the Visayas from 67%, and four points in Mindanao from 71%,” it added.

Meanwhile, 17% of families rated themselves borderline food poor while 37% labelled themselves as not food poor.

Like the self-rated poverty rate, the self-rated food poverty rate increased due to a sharp increase in Metro Manila.  

“Compared to June 2024, self-rated food poverty rose by eight points in Metro Manila from 31%. However, it barely changed in Balance Luzon from 42%, and the Visayas from 50%, while it stayed at 61% in Mindanao,” it said.

Expenses in the metro, elsewhere

The SWS also noted an unchanged rate in the median monthly family expenses for house rent at P3,000 and transportation to work and school at P2,000.

However, it rose for internet at P1,000 from P900 and mobile phone load at P400 from P360.

The survey also showed that the median monthly family expense for house rent was highest in Metro Manila at P3,500, followed by Balance Luzon at P3,000, the Visayas at P2,250, and Mindanao at P1,500.

For transportation to work and school, the median monthly family expense was also highest in Metro Manila at P2,500, followed by Balance Luzon at P2,000, the Visayas at P2,000, and Mindanao at P1,500.

“As of September 2024, the median monthly family expense for internet was P1,000 in all areas. For mobile phone load, the September 2024 median monthly family expense was P400 in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, and Mindanao, and P300 in the Visayas,” it said.

The survey, conducted from September 14-23, 2024, found that 59% of Filipino families rated themselves as “poor,” up from the 58% recorded in a similar study in June, and “the highest percentage of self-rated poor families” since June 2008.

This year’s third quarter survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews of 1,500 adults nationwide, with 600 of the total respondents residing in Balance Luzon (or areas outside Metro Manila), while 300 were each from Metro Manila, the Visayas, and Mindanao.