THE Philippine Statistics Authority's (PSA) average poverty threshold of P10,481 a month for a family was supported by facts as it had undergone a thorough study, Malacañang said Thursday, April 11.

"I'm sure pinag-aralan nila 'yun, 'di ba? I'm sure tinanong nila 'yung mga respondent sa survey, tapos kinuha nila 'yung survey. Iyon siguro 'yun (I'm sure they studied it, don't they? I'm sure they asked the survey respondents. Perhaps, that's how they computed the average)," Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press conference.

The PSA reported Wednesday, April 10, that few Filipinos fell into poverty in the first half of 2018.

The nationwide poverty incidence fell to 21 percent in January to June 2018 compared to 27.6 percent recorded in the first half of 2015.

This means there are 23.1 million Filipinos whose incomes fail to meet the poverty threshold during the period, or the minimum amount needed to meet the basic food and non-food requirements of a family of five.

The latest poverty data showed reduction of number of poor individuals from the 28.8 million in 2015.

Critics, however, believed that the decline in poverty was "unrealistic."

Quizzed if he thinks the monthly poverty threshold is realistic, Panelo said: "I will leave it to them kasi sila ang nag-conduct ng survey, sila ang nag-aral. Eh tayo nandito naman, wala tayong alam doon (I will leave it to them because they are the ones who conducted and studied the survey. We don't know anything about it)."

"Depende siguro eh. Depende sa lifestyle nung kumakain (Perhaps, it depends on the situation. It depends on the people's lifestyle)," Panelo added. (SunStar Philippines)