When talking about income inequality in the Philippines, the discussion would always focus on the poor vs. rich divide. But with the recent economic challenges that the country has faced, it has shifted to the poor vs. middle class. As such, low-income families are prioritized when it comes to receiving government help like relief goods and cash aid especially during the first year of the pandemic. On the other hand, middle-class households hardly receive government assistance. This raises the question: Who should the government help more, the poor or the middle class? Before we get to that, it's important to understand first the different social classes in the Philippines. Contrary to popular belief, social class is more than just about how much money you're making. Sociologists define social class as a group of people with similar socioeconomic status or standing within the society based on the level of income, education, and occupation. Social classes range from low to high and often reveal inequalities in terms of power, influence, and access to resources. Three primary social classes exist in the Philippines: the low-income class, the middle-income class, and the high-income class. The latest Family Income and Expenditure Survey[1] by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows that majority (58.4%) of Filipinos belong to the low-income class, while the middle class comprises around 40% of the population. Only 1.4% fall in the high-income class. The Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), the government's socio-economic policy think tank, notes that the low-income class has a bigger share of the population because they tend to have larger families than other social classes. The middle class is further classified into lower, middle, and upper middle-income classes. In between the poor and the middle class is another social class called the low-income class—they're not middle class but not considered poor. And then there's the upper-income class in between the middle class and the rich. Although people in this social class make six-digit figures monthly, they're not considered among the elite group of the wealthiest in the Philippines. For policy-making and public service purposes, the Philippine government looks at the per capita income (in relation to the poverty threshold) to classify the income level of its citizens and to assess their standard of living. The current average estimated poverty threshold in the Philippines is ₱12,082,[2] which is the minimum amounta family of five needs in a month to buy their basic food and non-food items. If your family income is higher than the poverty threshold, the government doesn't consider you poor. Wondering what social class in the Philippines you belong in? Your guess might not match the government's definition of social classes. Note: Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. To provide updated and accurate information that better reflects the present situation, the income computation is based on the current poverty threshold. Read more: How do you know if you're middle class? Is it the clothing brands you wear? The places you've traveled to? The government defines the middle class as those earning incomes between two to 12 times the poverty line. This means if your family income is between around ₱24,000 and ₱145,000, you fall in the middle-income class. A 2018 PIDS study[3] provides deeper insights into the middle class in the Philippines. Here are some important and interesting facts to know about the social structure in the Philippines, specifically the country's middle classvis-à-vis their poor and low-income counterparts: Read more: Living in Manila with P15,000 Income Amid the pandemic, the government has prioritized the poorest of the poor in terms of providing financial support. It has allocated ₱200 billion for the social amelioration program to help 18 million low-income households tide over for two months during the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon. Each of these families received cash aid between ₱5,000 and ₱8,000. On social media, Filipinos engaged in heated debates about which social class deserves to receive more government assistance during a crisis. Is it the poor who have nothing, or the hardworking, tax-paying middle class? This issue has sparked appeals for the expansion of the social amelioration program's coverage to include the middle class. After all, even though they rely less on government help, it doesn't mean the middle class is completely resilient to a financial crisis. They're just as affected by it as the poor. Related reading: Laid Off? Here’s How to Compute Separation Pay in the Philippines To the government's credit, it has responded to the calls for assistance to middle-class families with the Small Business Wage Subsidy Program.[4] It benefitted 3.4 million middle-class workers of micro, small, and medium enterprises during the height of the pandemic. The program gave cash aid worth ₱5,000 to ₱8,000 for two months to affected workers. Aside from that, other ongoing government assistance programs, such as the SSS unemployment benefit, cover the middle class. Valid as their grievances are, some people in the middle class assert that the poor don't deserve government assistance because they're not working hard and just relying on government dole-outs. However, according to Jose Ramon Albert, senior research fellow at the PIDS, what people fail to realize is that when the economy is down [due to the crisis], it's the poor who suffer the most. "[They're] much more affected, so they need more help than us,” he said in an interview with ABS-CBN News.[5] Considering the government's limited funds, giving them the priority for government assistance makes a lot of sense. The PIDS study also notes that if the government shifts public resources away from the poor toward the middle class, this would impede inclusive growth in the country, make it harder for the poor to reach middle-class status, and make the current socio-economic divide worse. While everyone is affected by the health crisis and the oil price hikes in one way or another, vulnerable groups—the poor, low-income class, and lower middle class—have it worse. They're at a higher risk of losing livelihood. Thus, they deserve support not just from the government but also from the upper class in the Philippines who are in a position to help others. The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Ambisyon NATIN 2040 proposes that expanding the Filipino middle class is key to achieving Philippine development goals. Many scholars believe that the middle class play a big part in the Philippines' drive for progress and equality.[6] Moreover, the country should work to create more job opportunities that pay well and improve financial services and the quality of education, skills, and training of the labor force. In short, this shouldn't be a battle between social classes in the Philippines. In the grand scheme of things, it should be about the poor and low-income becoming middle-income and enjoying a better quality of life. Sources:What is the Meaning of Social Class?
Which Social Class are You?
3 Social Classes in the Philippines: Low, Middle, and High Income
Types of Social Class in the Philippines
Income Cluster Per Capita Income Monthly Income (for a family of 5) Poor Less than the official poverty threshold Less than ₱12,082 Low-income class (but not poor) Between the poverty line and twice the poverty line Between ₱12,082 and ₱24,164 Lower middle-income class Between two and four times the poverty line Between ₱24,164 and ₱48,328 Middle middle-income class Between four and seven times the poverty line Between ₱48,328 and ₱84,574 Upper middle-income class Between seven and 12 times the poverty line Between ₱84,574 and ₱144,984 Upper-income class (but not rich) Between 12 and 20 times the poverty line Between ₱144,984 and ₱241,640 Rich At least 20 times the poverty line ₱241,640 and above Who Exactly is the Middle Class?
Facts About the Middle Class in the Philippines
Which Social Class Must the Government Help?
Government Financial Assistance for the Middle Class
Why the Poor Need More Help
Final Thoughts
FAQs
What factors determine what social class you belong to? ›
Most sociologists define social class as a grouping based on similar social factors like wealth, income, education, and occupation. These factors affect how much power and prestige a person has.
Who belongs to middle class in the Philippines? ›The government defines the middle class as those earning incomes between two to 12 times the poverty line. This means if your family income is between around ₱24,000 and ₱145,000, you fall in the middle-income class.
What are the 3 social classes and who is each class? ›Today, concepts of social class often assume three general economic categories: a very wealthy and powerful upper class that owns and controls the means of production; a middle class of professional workers, small business owners and low-level managers; and a lower class, who rely on low-paying jobs for their ...
What are the 3 main social class? ›Sociologists generally posit three classes: upper, working (or lower), and middle. The upper class in modern capitalist societies is often distinguished by the possession of largely inherited wealth.
What is social classes in the Philippines? ›Three primary social classes exist in the Philippines: the low-income class, the middle-income class, and the high-income class.
How can you tell a person's social class? ›Functionalist sociologists rely on measures of socioeconomic status (SES), such as education, income, and occupation, to determine someone's social class.
What is class C in the Philippines? ›Ned Roberto, marketing guru.) These letter-groups have no standard names. A is on top, but B is upper-class too; C is middle-class in the cosmopolitan sense; D is the “masa”; E is very low-class. Upper-class households are so few that often they are combined into AB.
Who belongs to middle class? ›Different income barometers describe the middle class as having income from $50,000 to $150,000 or, in some instances, $42,000 to $125,000. Other measures of middle class set the upper-income mark at $250,000.
Is the Philippines a middle class country? ›The Philippines is currently classified as a lower-middle-income economy by the World Bank. Its latest gross national income (GNI) per capita rose from $3,430 in 2020 to $3,640 in 2021. GNI refers to the total income generated by a country's residents within and outside its borders.
Who belongs to upper class? ›The term upper class refers to a group of individuals who occupy the highest place and status in society. These people are considered the wealthiest, lying above the working and middle class in the social hierarchy.
What is an example of middle class? ›
The middle class or middle classes are the people in a society who are not working class or upper class. Business people, managers, doctors, lawyers, and teachers are usually regarded as middle class.
What is an example of lower class? ›lower classes
In the US, the term lower class generally means the group of people who work for a low hourly wage. The working poor, manual laborers, and service industry workers all might be considered part of the lower class.
Upper class in modern societies is the social class composed of people who hold the highest social status, usually are the wealthiest members of class society, and wield the greatest political power.
What were the two main social classes? ›Patricians and plebeians. Traditionally, patrician refers to members of the upper class, while plebeian refers to lower class. Economic differentiation saw a small number of families accumulate most of the wealth in Rome, thus giving way to the creation of the patrician and plebeian classes.
What is my social status? ›Social status refers to the honor or prestige attached to one's position in society. It may also refer to a rank or position that one holds in a group, such as son or daughter, playmate, pupil, etc. One's social status is determined in different ways.
What is class D in the Philippines? ›Those from class D are self-employed – the market vendors, drivers – and not necessarily informal settlers. Most of them own the place that they live in or they rent. Tabunda said members of classes A and B are secluded as they reside in gated subdivisions and refuse to take part in surveys.
What are the social classes of early Filipino? ›The Tagalogs had a three-class social structure consisting of the maginoo (royalty), the maharlika (lit. freemen; warrior nobility), and the alipin (serfs and slaves).
What are the 5 social classes? ›It has assigned the quintiles from lowest to highest as lower class, lower middle class, middle class, upper middle class, and upper class. These definitions equate class with income, permitting people to move from class to class as their income changes.
Can you tell if someone is middle class? ›There is no official financial standard that defines the middle class, but there are certain benchmarks that seem to attest to that classification. Owning a home and car, as well as being able to pay for your children to go to college are among the milestones.
How can you tell if someone is low class? ›The lower class is typified by poverty, homelessness, and unemployment. People of this class, few of whom have finished high school, suffer from lack of medical care, adequate housing and food, decent clothing, safety, and vocational training.
What is class A and class C? ›
Class A motorhomes are generally taller and wider than Class C designs. Class As are often equipped with multiple slide-outs for maximum square footage. Class As tend to be more residential on the inside. Kitchens tend to be a little bigger. You might have room for a dinette and a sofa.
What does a class C mean? ›With a Basic Class C License:
a 2-axle vehicle with a GVWR of 26,000 pounds or less. a 3-axle vehicle weighing 6,000 pounds gross or less. a motorized scooter. any housecar 40 feet or less.
A Class B is usually smaller and more fuel-efficient than a Class C. Because of its size and car-like characteristics, some consider a Class B easier to drive. A Class C offers more interior living space and more exterior storage.
How do you know if you are middle class in the Philippines? ›Based on the data from different sources above, for a family to be considered as part of the middle class, they must meet the following criteria: A household income of approximately ₱63,700 to ₱109,200 per month. The bigger your family size is, the higher your income should be in order to fit into this classification.
Am I middle class or upper class? ›The Pew Research Center defines the middle class as households that earn between two-thirds and double the median U.S. household income, which was $65,000 in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.21 Using Pew's yardstick, middle income is made up of people who make between $43,350 and $130,000.7 This is a ...
Is Philippines poor or not? ›In 2021, poverty rose to 18.1 percent despite large government assistance. The economy has begun to rebound but signs are emerging that the recovery will be uneven. Prolonged loss of income has taken a heavy toll on the poorest households.
Is Philippines a rich or poor country? ›The Philippine economy is the world's 40th largest by nominal GDP and 17th largest in Asia according to the International Monetary Fund in 2022. 109,991,095 (12th; 2021 est.)
Is Philippines a 2nd or 3rd world country? ›Today, the Philippines is still considered a Third World Country. Most people say, problems such as corruption, unemployment, crimes, and poverty are the ones that hinder this country to be part of the developed countries.
Who belongs to lower class? ›Defining the Lower Class
When used by social scientists, the lower class is typically defined as service employees, low-level manual laborers, and the unemployed. Those who are employed in lower class occupations are often colloquially referred to as the working poor.
The term “working class” often typically describes members of the labor force that hold a service-type occupation and do not hold a bachelor's degree. Common working class occupations include restaurant employees, auto mechanics, construction workers, and other service-type workers.
What defines you as upper class? ›
In 2021, the median household income is roughly $68,000. An upper class income is usually considered at least 50% higher than the median household income. Therefore, an upper class income in America is $100,000 and higher.
What is a working class person? ›What Is the Working Class? "Working class" is a socioeconomic term used to describe persons in a social class marked by jobs that provide low pay, require limited skill, or physical labor. Typically, working-class jobs have reduced education requirements.
Is a teacher lower class? ›Individuals in the lower-middle class tend to hold low status professional or white collar jobs, such as school teacher, nurse, or paralegal. These types of occupations usually require some education but generally do not require a graduate degree.
What is a low class person? ›a class of people below the middle class, having the lowest social rank or standing due to low income, lack of skills or education, and the like.
What is middle class society? ›a class of people intermediate between the classes of higher and lower social rank or standing; the social, economic, cultural class, having approximately average status, income, education, tastes, and the like. the class traditionally intermediate between the aristocratic class and the laboring class.
Who are the two classes of people? ›There Are Two Classes of People in the World; Those Who Divide People into Two Classes and Those Who Do Not – Quote Investigator®
How are social classes different from each other? ›"Social class differences come about because of the ideas and values you are surrounded by, the types of social interactions you have at home, school and work, and the sorts of institutional practices and policies that are common in your community," she says. "That means that these differences are not immutable."
How were the social classes divided? ›Social classes are hierarchical groupings of individuals that are usually based on wealth, educational attainment, occupation, income, or membership in a subculture or social network.
What factors determine social class quizlet? ›A person's social class is difficult to determine. It depends on many factors, including occupation, sources of income, marketable abilities, access to consumer good and services, and membership in status groups and political parties.
What is one of the most important factors in determining a person's social class? ›In American society, the primary driver of social stratification is class, determined by one's economic power and prestige. Prestige is the status that wealth, certain occupations, roles, or ascribed social characteristics may confer on a person.
How is social class determined quizlet? ›
What is social class? A measure of STATUS which is often based on occupation, income and wealth, but can also be measured in terms of aspirations and mobility. These factors are used to group individuals scoring similarly on these factors into socioeconomic classes.
What are the main characteristics of social class? ›Social class is the division within a society based on a person's economic, social, and intellectual characteristics. Individuals who are grouped in the same social class share the same wealth, education, and income.
Which of the following answers is one indicator of social class? ›Education is the most reliable indicator of a person's socioeconomic status as for a normal person, a higher level of education will lead to a higher level of income.