ONE OF three Filipino families has escaped poverty, the Social Weather Stations (SWS) said in its latest poll.
The March 23 to 27 survey found that 30 percent of Filipino families deemed themselves as "usually non-poor" or "newly non-poor."
The 30 percent who climbed out of poverty are composed of 18 percent who used to be poor five or more years ago (usually non-poor), and 12 percent who were poor one or four years ago (newly non-poor).
The number of Filipino families who moved out of poverty was higher than the 17 percent "usually non-poor" and 14 percent "newly non-poor" registered in December 2017.
Meanwhile, 12 percent or about one of eight Filipino families fell into poverty, as half of them considered themselves as "usually poor" while the other half believed they were "newly poor."
Results of the SWS survey were sourced from the 58 percent who were "non-poor" and 42 percent who rated themselves poor.
The poll showed that 28 percent were "always non-poor," while the other 29 percent were "always poor."
Malacañang welcomed the poll results, noting the government's contribution to the decline of poverty rate by delivering basic services, such as broadened access to free education, medicine, and healthcare, "to ensure that our people directly benefit from the country's economic gains."
It also believed that the current administration had reduced the Filipino families' vulnerability by implementing pro-poor projects like conditional cash transfer program and employment facilitation, and micro-enterprise projects.
"The Duterte administration, as we all know, has espoused inclusive, sustainable and resilient growth," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a press conference in Davao City on Saturday, May 5.
"Rest assured that we will continue to reduce inequality, expand economic opportunities, and lay down the foundation of a comfortable life for everyone," he added.
The SWS surveyed 1,200 adult Filipinos nationwide, using sampling error margins of ±3 percentage points for national percentages, and ±6 percentage points each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. (SunStar Philippines)