MANILA - Nearly half, or 49 percent, of the Filipino families consider themselves poor, the second quarter survey of the Social Weather Station (SWS) showed Monday.

The latest survey result was slightly lower than the 52 percent that rated themselves as poor during the first quarter.

The June 28-30 survey, which covered 1,200 respondents, also showed that four out of 10 families or 40 percent consider themselves short of food, barely changed from the 39 percent result in March.

The SWS survey also showed that respondents from the national capital region (NCR) who consider themselves as poor felt that a family needs a monthly income of 16,000 pesos ($366.6) to avoid being considered poor.

Those in the NCR and the central region of Visayas also said that at least 6,000 pesos ($137) should be spent monthly on food.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said Monday that the Aquino administration welcomed the small drop in the number of people who perceived themselves as poor but still considers poverty as a major challenge which they are intent on overcoming.