DSWD downplays SWS survey on poor families

MANILA, Philippines - Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman downplayed yesterday the results of the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey, which showed an increase in the number of Filipino families who claimed they are “poor” and “food-poor” in the past three months.

Soliman said the results of the latest SWS poll were not significant considering the margin of error applied in the survey.

“It’s almost the same (with the previous survey) considering the plus or minus three percentage points margin of error applied in the survey,” Soliman said in an interview over dzRH.

The SWS Third Quarter Survey found that the number of Filipino families who consider themselves poor and food-poor jumped by three percentage points and five points, respectively, in the last three months.

She said the increase was also noted in Luzon and Metro Manila, the areas that were severely affected by typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel.”

Soliman said aside from the typhoons, the latest round of fuel price increases has triggered a widespread surge in the cost of basic commodities.

She said the SWS noted declines in self-perceived poverty and food-poverty in the Visayas and Mindanao.

She said the government’s conditional cash assistance program, implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), provided the means to poverty-stricken victims to cushion the impacts of the typhoons in some areas.

Soliman said that by the end of November this year, a total of 2.3 million families will receive their monthly cash grants amounting to P1,400.

She said the agency will add 700,000 more beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program by January 2012.