Over half of Philipino families consider themselves poor

MANILA -- Some 55 percent of the respondents, or about 12.1 million Philipino families, considered themselves poor, according to a survey released on Monday.

In its third-quarter survey on self-rated poverty, private research institute Social Weather Stations (SWS) said the rate is unchanged from the June survey.

It said more families in northern Philippines claimed they are poor. In the capital region of Manila, 43 of respondents said they are living in poverty, up from 37 percent recorded in the June survey.

The latest SWS survey also showed that those who said they are "food-poor" rose to 43 percent, from 41 percent in the second quarter.

The survey, conducted on Sept. 26 to 29, involved face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults nationwide.

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