UNDERSTANDING CULTURE, SOCIETY,

AND POLITICS

QUARTER 11
Concept, Characteristics and Forms of
KTO12LRM Stratification Systems
 Learning Competency:
◦MELC
◦examine the concept, characteristics and forms of stratification systems
using sociological perspectives

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Directions: Arrange the following jumbled letters into words. Write your
answers in your notebook.

1. ationtificStra
2. weLor lasCs
3. ppeUr lascs
4. dleMid scsla
5. quaIlityne

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KTO12LRM
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 *List as many social problems that you can relate in the
picture.
*Based on the picture, is there a system of hierarchy
that exist in our society?

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 Sociologists use the term social stratification to describe the system of social standing. Social
stratification refers to a society’s categorization of its people into rankings of socioeconomic tiers based on
factors like wealth, income, race, education, and power. (Lumen Learning n.d.)

Types of Social Class in the Philippines

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 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 socioeconomic 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 lowincome class—they’re not
middle class but not considered poor. And then there’s the upperincome 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
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 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 official poverty threshold in the Philippines is PHP 10,481, which is the minimum amount a 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 you’re in? Your guess might not match the
government’s definition of social classes.

Income Cluster Per Capita Income Monthly Income (for a family of

5)
Poor Less than the official poverty threshold Less than PHP 10,481
Low-income class (but Between the poverty line and twice the Between PHP 10,481 and PHP
not poor) poverty line 20,962
Lower middle-income Between two and four times the poverty Between PHP 20,962 and PHP
class line 41,924
Middle middle-income Between four and seven times the poverty Between PHP 41,924 and PHP
class line 73,367
Upper middle-income Between seven and 12 times the poverty Between PHP 73,367 and PHP
class line 125,772
Upper-income class (but Between 12 and 20 times the poverty line Between PHP 125,772 and PHP
not rich) 209,620
Rich At least 20 times KTO12LRM
the poverty line PHP 209,620 and above
 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 PHP 21,000 and PHP 125,000, you fall in
the middle-income class.

A 2018 PIDS study provides deeper insights into the middle class in the Philippines. Here are some
important and interesting facts to know about the country’s middle class vis-àvis their poor and low-income
counterparts:

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 Facts about the Middle Class in the Philippines

Middle-income households have significantly greater access to education, health, and other services (not
necessarily from the government). Most of them live in urban areas, especially in Metro Manila and nearby
areas.

Three in every four middle-income households live in a space that they own, while 23% rent. A small
percentage (3%) of the middle class live in the slums, but they make up a large chunk of informal settlers in the
country (42%).

This is attributed to the lack of affordable housing in the cities. Middle-class workers have stable jobs
(mostly salaried) in wholesale and retail trade, transportation, communication, and government sectors. These
include sari-sari store owners, tricycle and jeep drivers, bus conductors, call center agents, public school
teachers, clerks, private-sector employees, and government workers. They have higher educational attainment,
which is why more of them have better-quality jobs. Their families are smaller with fewer children. Middleclass
families spend more on their children’s education, sending them to private schools and getting them tutoring
services. In Metro Manila and other traffic-congested cities, most cars are owned by the middle class.

Middle-class households are less dependent on the government, shifting away from using public services
and leaning towards private ones. This is especially true in the case of transportation, healthcare, and
education. (Zuleta 2022).
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Directions: Write T if the statement is true and F if it is false. Write your
answers in your notebook.
1. Middle-class families spend more on their children’s education
2. High-income class has a bigger share of the population
3. Middle-class households are less dependent on the government.
4. Middle middle-income class has less than the official poverty threshold.
5. Middle-class workers have stable jobs
6. The current official poverty threshold in the Philippines is PHP 10,481
7. A small percentage (3%) of the middle class live in the slums.
8. Most cars are owned by the middle class. 9. Social stratification refers to
a society’s categorization of its people.
10. Middle-income households have significantly greater access to education.

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Directions: Based on the lesson, create a diagram which shows the
hierarchy of social classes that exist in the Philippines. Write it in a short
bond paper.

Rubrics:
Creativity/Concept 10pts
Organization 5pts
Neatness 5pts.
Total: 20pts

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Directions: Choose from the given options which are best described in each of the items. Write only
the letter which corresponds to the correct answer in your notebook.
A. Poor
B. Low-income class (but not poor)
C. Lower middle-income class
D. Middle middle-income class
E. Upper middle-income class
F. Upper-income class (but not rich)
G. Rich
1. At least 20 times the poverty line.
2. Between 12 and 20 times the poverty line.
3. Between seven and 12 times the poverty line.
4. Between four and seven times the poverty line.
5. Between two and four times the poverty line.
6. Between the poverty line and twice the poverty line.
7. Less than the official poverty threshold.
8. Has a bigger share of the population.
9. Their families are smaller with fewer children.
10. They are less dependent on the government, shifting away from using public services and leaning
towards private ones.

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