MALACAÑANG yesterday welcomed the findings of the latest Social Weather Stations survey showing the number of Filipino households that regard themselves as poor and food-poor has decreased.

The September 24-27 survey showed that self-rated poverty went down to 52 percent from 59 percent in June. Self-rated food poverty also went down from 49 to 38 percent because of belt-tightening or lower standards of living.

"These are welcome developments, although we know that there is still work to be done along that line," said Press Secretary Jesus Dureza.

Fifty-two percent is equivalent to about 9.4 million of Filipino families while 59 percent is about 10.6 million families who consider themselves poor.

Thirty-eight percent is equivalent to about 6.9 million while 49 percent equals 8.8 million families who consider themselves food-poor.

Dureza said the lowest poverty data was only seen in the administration of President Arroyo because of anti-poverty programs.

He admitted that belt-tightening or lower standards of living may be a factor for the reduction in self-rated poverty and food poverty but the SWS survey did not say anything conclusive.

"It can be anything else, so government feels that the effort given to the poor sector of the country somehow had some positive results, but there’s still work to be done," he added.

The SWS survey said the median poverty threshold in Metro Manila was P10,000 in September although it had already reached as high as P15,000 several times in the past. In Luzon, it reached P6,000 in September from P10,000 before.