From Presidential Spokesperson Ernie Abella – On SWS First Quarter 2017 Self-Rated Poverty Gap and Self-Rated Food Poverty Gap

A March 25-28 Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey revealed that the national median Self-Rated Poverty Gap, or the amount poor families lack in monthly home expenses relative to their stated threshold is P5,000. 

This is half of the respondent families stated Self-Rated Poverty Threshold, or the monthly budget that a poor household needs for home expenses in order for them not to consider themselves poor in general, of P10,000.

Meanwhile, the same survey showed that the respondent families Self-Rated Food Poverty Gap, or the amount food-poor families lack in monthly food expenses relative to their stated threshold is P2,000. This is lower compared to their stated Self-Rated Food Poverty Threshold, or the monthly budget that a food-poor household needs for food expenses in order not to consider its food as poor is P5,000.

Bringing comfortable lives to all is the overarching goal of the Duterte administration. As a starter, the government initiated some pro-poor and inclusive efforts that include higher pension for seniors, free medicine for indigents, added incentive and combat duty pay for police and soldiers, and gratuity pay to job order and contract workers in the government. Through these initiatives we hope there will be more food on the poor household families’ table.