1 IN 2 HOUSEHOLDS IN MINDANAO SAY THEY’RE POOR — SURVEY FLAGS DEEPENING STRUGGLE

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (April 30) — Hunger, rising prices, and fragile incomes are colliding across Mindanao, where a new survey shows more than half of families now consider themselves poor, underscoring widening economic strain in the country’s southern regions.

The latest self-rated poverty survey by OCTA Research found that 35% of Filipino households nationwide—or about 9.2 million families—rate themselves as poor, but the picture is far harsher in the South.

In Mindanao, the figure spikes to 56%, meaning roughly one in every two households sees itself as struggling to survive.

Across Visayas, the rate remains high at 44%, highlighting a persistent regional divide in living conditions.

“SURVIVAL MODE” ECONOMY

The survey, conducted March 19–25 among 1,200 adults, shows how tightly stretched household budgets have become:

• 35% say they are poor 
• 24% say they are not poor 
• 41% are unsure where they stand economically 

Researchers note the large “uncertain” group reflects families stuck between daily wage survival and rising cost pressures, especially in transport, food, and utilities.

POOREST FEEL THE HARDEST HIT

Among income groups, the divide is stark:

• 58% of Class E households (poorest segment) say they are poor 
• 35% of Class D 
• Only 15% of Class ABC 

That gap highlights how uneven recovery remains—especially in rural and conflict-affected areas of Mindanao, where jobs are often informal, seasonal, or low-paid.

NO REAL IMPROVEMENT DESPITE SMALL DIP

Nationally, the 35% figure is slightly lower than 37% in late 2025, but OCTA says the change is not statistically significant, meaning there is no clear sign of recovery.

The group also warned the results may only reflect a “pre-shock baseline”—before higher fuel, transport, and food prices fully hit households in the following months.

In Mindanao, the numbers tell a blunt story—economic recovery is uneven, and for millions of families, poverty is not a statistic but a daily reality.