MANILA, Philippines – The number of Filipinos who consider themselves poor hit a new record low of 38 percent, or some 9.5 million families in the first quarter of 2019, a Social Weather Station (SWS) survey released Tuesday night showed. The latest figure is12 points below the 50 percent recorded in December 2018, and 4 points below the previous record low of 42 percent in September 2016 and March 2018. ADVERTISEMENT“The new record-low Self-Rated Poverty score is a continuing recovery from the 10-point rise within the first three quarters of 2018,” the survey noted. The remaining 26%, or about three out of four poor families, have never experienced being non-poor (“always poor”). The survey added that the median Self-Rated Poverty Threshold or the monthly income households need is at least P10,000 so as not to be considered poor.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer June 19, 2019 01:07 UTC