Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has expressed appreciation for the findings of recent surveys conducted by OCTA Research and Social Weather Stations (SWS), viewing them as valuable resources in refining social protection programs for disadvantaged populations.

According to Philippines News Agency, the second quarter 2026 Tugon ng Masa (TNM) nationwide survey by OCTA Research, conducted from July 4 to 11 with 1,200 respondents, revealed an increase in self-rated poverty, rising to 39 percent in July from 35 percent in March. This percentage represents approximately 10.3 million families. Additionally, self-rated hunger increased to 21 percent or about 5.6 million families in July, up from 17 percent or roughly 4.5 million families in March. The survey also noted that 87 percent of families experiencing hunger reported it as occasional rather than continuous.

DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao commented on these findings in a news release, emphasizing the government's commitment to enhancing service delivery to Filipinos. "The Department welcomes these survey findings from OCTA Research and SWS as valuable tools to assess current ground realities and guide strategic adjustments in service delivery," she stated.

The second quarter 2026 SWS survey, conducted from June 20 to 29, indicated a positive trend in earlier months, with self-rated poverty decreasing to 49 percent in June from 52 percent in March, and self-rated food poverty declining to 36 percent in June from 42 percent in March.

Dumlao highlighted differences in survey results due to varying respondent groups but reaffirmed the DSWD's dedication to improving programs like the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) for food-insecure households. A separate SWS survey commissioned by Globe Telecoms showed a decline in food poverty among WGP beneficiaries to 77.6 percent in June from 79 percent in March, while non-beneficiaries saw an increase to 85.7 percent in June from 84.4 percent in March.

The same survey recorded a reduction in hunger incidence among WGP beneficiaries to 26.9 percent in June from 33.6 percent in March, compared to non-beneficiaries whose hunger incidence remained at 36.9 percent in June from 38.3 percent in March. Dumlao noted the results reflect the effectiveness of the WGP in reducing hunger among its beneficiaries.

In line with directives from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the DSWD is actively working to expand the reach of the WGP and other social protection initiatives to better support vulnerable families facing economic challenges.