OCTA: Self-rated poverty, hunger decline in 2024 Q3

Self-rated poverty and hunger decreased in the third quarter of this year, according to the Tugon ng Masa (TNM) survey conducted by OCTA Research.

An estimated 43% of Filipino families, or around 11.3 million, identified themselves as poor in the third quarter of 2024. According to the OCTA Research, this represented a ''notable improvement compared to the 48% that was recorded in the second quarter TNM survey conducted in June.

''The 5-percentage point drop equates to a reduction of around 1.4 million families no
longer considering themselves poor, underscoring a notable shift in self-perceptions of
poverty during the period,'' OCTA said in its report. 

Compared to the June 2024 survey, the self-rated poverty fell by seven percentage points in Balance Luzon (37% to 30%) and by 17 percentage points in Mindanao (77% to 60%).

On the other hand, it increased in the National Capital Region (from 28% to 35%) and in the Visayas (from 52% to 59%), both by seven percentage points. 

The survey results showed that Mindanao continues to have the highest percentage of families who consider themselves poor, at 60%, followed closely by the Visayas at 59%. 

When it comes to socioeconomic class, the highest self-rated poverty is observed among Class E, with 79% of families identifying as poor.

Meanwhile, an estimated 11% of Filipino families, or roughly 2.9 million, reported experiencing involuntary hunger that is defined as having gone without food at least once in the past three months prior to the survey. 

OCTA Research said this marks a significant improvement from the 16% that was recorded in the TNM survey conducted in June.

''The 5-percentage point drop represents a decrease of approximately 1.3 million families who no longer faced hunger in the third quarter of 2024. This underscores a notable improvement in self-reported hunger levels during this period,'' it said.

Further, 34% of adult Filipinos expressed belief that the state of poverty in the country was worse than before. Across major areas, Mindanao has the highest percentage of adult Filipinos who think poverty is worse than before, at 58%, followed by Visayas (50%). 

Meanwhile, Balance Luzon has the lowest percentage of adult Filipinos who perceive the situation as worse than before, at 15%. Moreover, 31% of adult Filipinos in NCR perceived the situation as worse.

The survey fieldwork was conducted from August 28 to September 2, 2024, using face-to-face interviews. A total of 1,200 male and female respondents aged 18 and above were interviewed for the study. 

The survey has a ±3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level.—AOL, GMA Integrated News