An estimated 10.3 million Filipino families considered themselves poor in the second quarter of the year, a sharp rise from 9.2 million in the previous quarter, according to the latest OCTA Research survey.
Data from the July 4 to 11 “Tugon ng Masa” survey reveal that 39 percent of respondents rated their families as poor, up four percentage points from 35 percent in the first quarter.
Meanwhile, self-rated non-poor households dropped to 18 percent from 24 percent, while 42 percent remained borderline, uncertain whether to classify themselves as poor or not.
Mindanao recorded the highest proportion of self-rated poor families at 58 percent, up from 56 percent in the previous quarter. The Visayas followed at 45 percent, slightly higher than its previous 44 percent, while Balance Luzon experienced a sharp surge from 25 percent to 33 percent. Conversely, the National Capital Region was the sole area to record an improvement, with self-rated poverty declining from 21 percent down to 18 percent.
Across socio-economic classes, self-rated poverty remained starkly concentrated among lower-income households. Class E registered the highest rate at 62 percent, followed by Class D at 37 percent and Class ABC at 20 percent.
The nationwide poll surveyed 1,200 adult respondents and carries a ±3 percent margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level.