Manila, Jan. 20 -- Self-rated poverty in the country dropped to 37 percent in the last quarter of 2025 from 54 percent in the third quarter, according to the latest OCTA Research.

OCTA Research fellow Guido David, in a Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon interview on Tuesday, said 1,200 respondents were asked if they consider themselves poor during the survey conducted from Dec. 3 to 11, 2025.

"I think people having money because of bonuses was a factor. But another factor, perhaps, was the administration's continued efforts to distribute 'ayuda' (assistance)," he said.

David added that another contributor to the decline was that "the inflation rate has stabilized."

"Life is not as hard as it was before, because our economic indicators have stabi...