FACT-CHECK | The figure has a basis in official government statistics, but it does not mean a Filipino can live on ₱96 a day and be considered financially secure.
You may have come across quote cards on social media claiming that the government considers a Filipino earning just ₱96 a day no longer poor.
The claim is based on an actual government figure. But it leaves out an important detail: ₱96.22 is the daily equivalent of the official per capita poverty threshold, not a minimum daily wage or a measure of what an individual needs to live comfortably.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) uses the poverty threshold to determine whether families earn enough to meet basic food and nonfood requirements. It calculates per capita income by dividing a household’s total income by the number of its members.
That distinction matters. The government does not automatically classify someone as nonpoor simply because that person earns ₱96 a day.
Where does the ₱96 figure come from?
The figure is based on the 2025 national poverty threshold of approximately ₱35,121 per person annually. Divided by 365 days, that comes to about ₱96.22.
For a family of five, the equivalent national monthly poverty threshold is approximately ₱14,634, or about ₱487.80 a day for the entire household.
Under the PSA’s methodology, families with per capita income below the applicable poverty threshold are classified as poor. Those whose income meets or exceeds it are classified as nonpoor.
The calculation considers total household income, not just the daily wage of one family member. This may include salaries, business earnings, pensions, cash assistance and other sources of income.
In short, the ₱96 figure is a statistical benchmark for measuring poverty across households. It is not an individual income requirement.
Does ₱96 cover the cost of living?
Not necessarily.
The poverty threshold estimates the minimum income needed to meet basic food and nonfood needs. It is not intended to represent the amount a person or family needs to live comfortably, build savings or withstand unexpected expenses.
A household classified as nonpoor can still struggle to pay rent, electricity and water bills, cover transportation and school expenses, or buy medicines.
This raises a bigger question: Does crossing the official poverty line mean a family can already afford a decent standard of living?
IBON Foundation, a research and advocacy organization, has challenged the government’s poverty measurement, arguing that the official threshold is too low and does not adequately reflect the actual cost of meeting Filipino families’ basic needs.
The debate is not simply about how many families fall below the poverty line. It is also about whether the line itself accurately reflects the economic pressures households face.
Poverty thresholds vary by region
The cost of meeting basic needs is not the same throughout the country. The PSA therefore uses regional poverty thresholds to account for differences in prices and living costs.
In Northern Mindanao, for example, the 2025 monthly poverty threshold for a family of five was ₱14,938, higher than the national figure of ₱14,634.
The difference illustrates why the national daily equivalent should not be treated as a universal amount that applies equally to every Filipino household.
What does being classified as nonpoor actually mean?
Under the PSA’s definition, a family is considered nonpoor when its per capita income is at or above the applicable poverty threshold.
That classification does not necessarily mean the family has savings, secure housing or enough money to deal with a medical emergency. It does not guarantee financial stability, either.
Nor does it mean every member of the household personally receives ₱96 a day.
The poverty threshold is a statistical tool for estimating and monitoring poverty in the country. It is not a minimum wage, a living wage or a recommended daily household budget.
Verdict: MISLEADING
The claim that earning ₱96 a day makes a Filipino nonpoor is misleading.
The figure comes from the government’s official poverty statistics, but it represents a per capita household poverty threshold. It does not establish that an individual earning that amount has enough money to meet daily expenses or live comfortably.
A family may be counted as nonpoor under the official measure and still struggle financially.
The distinction is crucial: being above the poverty line is not necessarily the same as being able to afford a decent life.
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