SELF-RATED poverty and hunger among Filipino families increased by 4 percentage points, from 35 percent in March 2026 to 39 percent in July, equivalent to an increase from about 9.2 million to 10.2 million families, according to the latest Tugon ng Masa (TNM) survey by OCTA Research.
The non-commissioned, nationwide survey was conducted from July 4 to 11, 2026, through face-to-face interviews with 1,200 respondents. It has a ±3 percentage-point margin of error at a 95 percent confidence level.
The increase was particularly prominent outside the National Capital Region (NCR). While self-rated poverty declined by approximately 3 percentage points in NCR, it climbed by around seven points in Balance Luzon, three points in Mindanao, and two points in the Visayas
Mindanao, usually billed as the ‘Land of Promise,’ continued to post the highest level of self-rated poverty among the major areas at 58 percent, followed by the Visayas at 46 percent, Balance Luzon at 33 percent and NCR at 18 percent. As expected, the burden was also significantly heavier among lower-income households, with 62 percent of Class E families identifying themselves as poor, compared with 37 percent of Class D and 20 percent of Class ABC households.
The survey likewise showed a 4-percentage-point increase in self-rated hunger, from 17 percent in March to 21 percent in July. OCTA estimated that the increase represents roughly 1.1 million additional families, bringing the number of families that experienced involuntary hunger to approximately 5.6 million.
However, the survey found that most hunger episodes were occasional. Among families that experienced hunger, 68percent said it happened only once, while 19percent said it occurred a few times. Overall, 87percent reported experiencing hunger only once or a few times, while 13percent said it occurred often or always.
Balance Luzon recorded the highest hunger incidence among the four major areas at 27 percent followed by NCR at 19 percent, the Visayas at 17 percent and Mindanao at 14 percent. By socioeconomic class, hunger was reported by 35 percent of Class E families, compared with 20 percent of Class D and 8 percent of Class ABC households.
At the regional level, Bicol posted the highest reported hunger incidence at 56 percent followed by Northern Mindanao at 37 percent, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon) at 34 percent, Caraga at 29 percent and Eastern Visayas at 28 percent.
OCTA cautioned that regional figures should be interpreted carefully because of their larger margins of error.
Despite the deterioration in overall poverty and hunger indicators, self-rated food poverty declined by three percentage points, from 31 percent in March to 28percent in July. OCTA estimates that this translates to a decrease from about 8.1 million to 7.4 million families who considered themselves food-poor, or roughly 700,000 fewer families.
It said the improvement was recorded across all four major areas. Food poverty fell from 12 percent to 9 percent in NCR, 22 percent to 18 percent in Balance Luzon, 39 percent to 37 percent in the Visayas and 53 percent to 52 percent in Mindanao.
Nonetheless, Mindanao registered the highest level of food poverty at 52 percent, while Class E households continued to carry the heaviest burden at 38 percent, compared with 28 percent for Class D and 14 percent for Class ABC.
The survey also points to continuing financial pressure, mainly low wages among households that remain food-poor. The median amount families said they need each month for food expenses to no longer consider themselves food-poor remained at P10,000. However, the median additional amount they said they currently lack increased from P4,000 in the first quarter to P5,000 in the second quarter.
Uneven recovery
THE latest figures paint a mixed picture of household welfare, with improvements in one measure of food security occurring alongside worsening perceptions of overall poverty and an increase in reported hunger.
OCTA noted that the rise in self-rated poverty was driven largely by conditions outside NCR, while Mindanao continued to register the highest levels of both poverty and food poverty. Balance Luzon, meanwhile, recorded the highest hunger incidence among the major areas.
The results also highlight the continuing vulnerability of Class E households, which recorded substantially higher levels across all three indicators-self-rated poverty, hunger and food poverty-than Class D and Class ABC households.
The results highlight the continuing vulnerability of Class E households, which recorded substantially higher levels of self-rated poverty, hunger, and food poverty than Class D and Class ABC households.
For policymakers, OCTA said these findings underscore the importance of closely monitoring household incomes, employment stability, food prices, and access to financial assistance, particularly for families with limited financial buffers.
OCTA’s survey suggests that while fewer families described themselves as food-poor, more experienced at least one episode of hunger during the preceding three months.
Overall, the Q2 2026 TNM results indicate that improvements in food poverty have a long way to go as they have yet to translate into broad-based economic security, with poverty and hunger remaining significant and uneven challenges across the country.