SURVEYS no longer reflect the real situation on the ground as two data research institutes showed contrasting claims on poverty.
Based on the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, the number of Filipino families who consider themselves poor has dropped, attributing the decline to government efforts to alleviate poverty.
According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), more households can provide for their families and cope with daily needs.
However, a separate survey conducted by Octa Research showed otherwise.
OCTA NUMBERS
Octa in its July 4 to 11 poll showed the number of poor and hungry Filipinos increased in the second quarter of the year.
The survey result found 39 percent of respondents rated their families as poor which is four points higher than the 35 percent in March. The hunger incidence rate also rose to 21 percent from 17 percent in March.
The number of respondents who said their families were not poor dropped from 24 percent to 18 percent, while 79 percent claimed not to experience hunger in the past three months, down from 83 percent as compared to March figure.
Self-rated poverty was recorded highest in Mindanao at 58 percent (from 56 percent), while hunger incidence was highest among those in balanced Luzon at 27 percent (from 16 percent).
“The coexistence of high hunger incidence in selected regions and comparatively low levels in others points to localized differences in household food access and vulnerability. These patterns may reflect differences in prices, employment conditions, household income stability and exposure to short-term disruptions,” OCTA said.
CLAIMING CREDIT
Citing SWS survey results for the second quarter of 2026, the DSWD claimed self-rated poverty (SRP) declined to 49 percent in June from 52 percent in March 2026.
“The latest SWS survey showed that the Marcos Administration’s sustained investments in social protection and anti-poverty programs have helped poor families and vulnerable sectors address their immediate needs while improving their capacities to become self-sufficient,” said DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao.
“The decline in self-rated poverty is encouraging and we will use it as a reference to continue strengthening our social protection programs focusing on human capital investments, sustainable livelihoods, food security, and community resilience,” she added.
Dumlao attributed the supposed decline in SRP to the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) and the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
The 4Ps provides conditional cash grants and supports investments for children’s health and education, while the WGP provides assistance to food-poor families through electronic benefit transfer cards. The SLP helps poor and vulnerable households develop livelihood opportunities and income-generating activities.
GATCHALIAN FACTOR?
“Under the leadership of Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the DSWD’s goal is not simply to help poor families survive today. We want to ensure that they receive all the necessary support, opportunities, and capabilities they need to build a better future for their children and become more resilient to whatever challenges may come,” Dumlao added..
Amid tensions in the Middle East, the DSWD rolled out its P5,000 cash relief assistance in March for the transport sector affected by rising fuel costs.
The cash aid, she claimed, helped cushion the impact of the global energy crisis on over 1.8 million public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers, Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) drivers, motorcycle (MC) taxi drivers, and service delivery riders nationwide.
“The DSWD’s cash relief assistance is part of the administration’s efforts to help all vulnerable sectors under the Unified Package for Livelihood, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT),” Dumlao said.
Octa and SWS surveys across the country were conducted one week apart.