Adjust ‘unrealistic’ threshold on poverty, govt urged

SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian yesterday called on the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to adjust and come up with a more accurate assessment of the country’s poverty threshold so the Senate can come up with reasonable budget allocations to alleviate poverty in the country.

Gatchalian made the statement after economics secretary Arsenio Balisacan, citing PSA figures, said during the 2025 budget briefing that the average poverty threshold is currently at P91.22 a day and that an individual cannot be considered food poor if he can afford to spend P64 a day for three meals.

Gatchalian said the PSA’s threshold on poverty is “unrealistic,” pointing out that it based its data on the “least cost” of food prices and menu nationwide, which he said is not the same across the country.

He added that the PSA assumed that people eat the same food each day, when this is far from the truth.

“Kumbaga, hindi realistic ang assumption na ginagamit nila para makuha itong P91 per day (Their assumption is not realistic to arrive at the P91 a day threshold),” Gatchalian told radio dzBB.

Gatchalian noted that a Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed that 55 percent of Filipinos consider themselves poor, and that a family of five needs at least P20,000 a month to pay for their electric bills, buy food, transportation expenses, and internet, among others.

The PSA said that only 15 percent of the population are poor.

“So, ibig sabihin kung unrealistic ang ating numbers na gagamitin, ibig sabihin unrealistic din ang mga programa natin. Kulang ang magiging programa natin sa pagtulong. Kaya importante ito para malaman natin kung magkano talaga ang kailangan nating ilaan para makatulong sa mahihirap nating kababayan (If we have unrealistic figures, that means our programs will also be unrealistic. Programs to help the poor will be lacking. That’s why it is important to know the truth so we can determine how much is needed to help our poor countrymen),” Gatchalian said.

He said giving unrealistic figures might also sway employers not to properly compensate workers.

“Kaya ako ang aking panawagan ay repasuhin at gawing realistic ang basis lalo na yung presyo ng pagkain at yung menu, gawin