Self-rated poverty peaks despite decreasing jobless rates in Philippines

More Filipinos are seeing themselves as poor, with self-rated poverty surging to its highest level in over two decades, according to data from Social Weather Stations (SWS). This stark rise underscores growing concerns about economic challenges, even as official data suggests otherwise.

In November 2024, the country's unemployment rate fell to 3.2%, down from 3.9% the previous month, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). PSA also reported a decline in the official poverty rate, with the proportion of poor Filipinos dropping from 18.1% in 2021 to 15.5% in 2023.

On the other hand, the latest survey from SWS revealed that, in December 2024, 63% of families considered themselves "mahirap" or poor, a rise from 59% in September 2024.

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The number has been "rising steadily for the third consecutive quarter since the significant 12-point rise from 46% in March 2024 to 58% in June 2024," SWS said in a release.

Meanwhile, the percentage of families seeing themselves on the borderline of poverty stood at 11%, a slight decrease from 13% in September 2024. Families classified as not poor also saw a small decline, dropping to 26% from 28% in the previous survey.

The contrast between self-rated and official poverty figures highlights the complexities of public perception versus measurable economic data.

Last July, Sonny Africa, the executive director of IBON Foundation, wrote that while the income of some of the poorest Filipinos increased enough to push them above the official poverty threshold, this doesn't necessarily reflect a reduction in poverty as experienced by most Filipinos.

This discrepancy is also underscored by the government's reliance on social assistance, such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Programme (4Ps), to push families just above the poverty line, he said. While such programmes are necessary, they reflect a dependence on aid rather than genuine economic progress.

"Better-looking poverty statistics shouldn't be the goal. This can be done by perpetual patronage-motivated ayuda programmes. The real goal should be development for the economy and the people, where being lifted above the income-based poverty line is just a natural consequence of such development," added Africa.

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