An estimated 9.2 million Filipino families considered themselves poor in the first quarter of 2026, down from roughly 9.8 million in December 2025, according to a new survey by OCTA Research released Wednesday.
The figures translate to a drop in the national self-rated poverty rate from 37% to 35%, though OCTA cautioned that the change falls within the survey’s margin of error. “While this suggests that roughly 600,000 fewer families considered themselves poor during the quarter, the difference is not statistically significant and remains within the survey’s margin of error, indicating that overall poverty conditions remained broadly stable,” the research group said.
The Tugon ng Masa survey was conducted March 19 to 25, 2025, covering 1,200 respondents aged 18 and above through face-to-face interviews, with a ±3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level.
Income class remained a sharp dividing line in the results. Among Class E households, 58% identified as poor, compared with 35% among Class D families and 15% among Class ABC. OCTA noted that the data underscores the continued concentration of poverty in lower-income segments even as national figures showed modest improvement.
Regionally, Mindanao posted the highest self-rated poverty rate at 56%, followed by the Visayas at 44%. OCTA described the geographic picture as one of uneven recovery. “The contrasting regional trends point to an uneven recovery, with gains concentrated in NCR and parts of Mindanao while other areas experienced setbacks. The persistently high poverty rates in Mindanao and among lower-income groups further indicate that many households remain economically vulnerable,” it said.
Food poverty edged up slightly, from 30% to 31%, representing approximately 8.1 million families. Self-rated hunger stood at 17%, or around 4.5 million families — marginally higher than the 16%, or 4.2 million, recorded in December 2025.
Around 24% of respondents said they did not consider themselves poor, while 41% were uncertain of their status. The survey results were released ahead of the global oil price disruptions tied to Middle East tensions, a factor OCTA linked to the broader economic backdrop of the period covered.
