Results from the latest OCTA Research survey, released on April 23, indicate a positive trend in poverty and hunger rates across the Philippines for the first quarter of 2024. According to the survey conducted from March 11 to 14, which involved 1,200 respondents nationwide, 42 percent of Filipino families, or approximately 11.1 million households, identified themselves as poor during this period.
OCTA Research noted a slight decrease from the fourth quarter of 2023, where 45 percent of families, or an estimated 11.9 million households, considered themselves poor. The report stated, “The 3 percent decrease, representing approximately 800,000 families, while modest, still represents a continuing downward trend in self-rated poverty observed since July 2023.”
The decline in self-rated poverty was significant in three major areas: Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, and the Visayas, with notable decreases in percentages. However, in Mindanao, self-rated poverty saw an increase from 59 to 71 percent.
Additionally, the survey revealed insights into self-rated hunger, with 11 percent of families, or around 2.9 million households, experiencing involuntary hunger in the first quarter of 2024. This marks a 3 percent decrease from the fourth quarter of 2023. Across major areas, self-rated hunger decreased in the Visayas and Mindanao, while Balance Luzon experienced a modest decrease and Metro Manila saw a slight increase.
OCTA Research emphasized that among families experiencing hunger, the majority reported it occurring “only once” or “a few times.” However, discrepancies were observed across socioeconomic classes, with Class D reporting higher instances of frequent hunger compared to Class E, and no instances reported in Class ABC.
The OCTA Research survey, titled “Tugon ng Masa,” was independent and non-commissioned.