NSCB - 2000 Poverty Estimates - Poverty Incidence: 2002 and 1997

Poverty incidence in the country or the proportion of families with per capita incomes below the poverty threshold increased from 28.1 percent in 1997 to 28.4 percent in 2000, up by 0.3 percentage points.

As a proportion to the population, poverty incidence was placed at 34.0 percent in 2000, a deterioration by 1.0 percentage point from 33.0 percent in 1997.

10 Poorest Provinces in Year 2000

The resulting estimates based on the newly approved poverty methodology showed that among the 81 provinces in the country (including the 4 districts of NCR), Sulu consistently posted the highest poverty incidence in 1997 and 2000 with 67.1 and 63.2 percent, respectively. Also among the poorest provinces in 2000 are Masbate (62.8%), Tawi-Tawi (56.5%); Ifugao (55.6%),and Romblon (55.2%).

Also included among the poorest provinces are Maguindanao (55.1%), Lanao del Sur (55.0%), Sultan Kudarat (54.3%), Camiguin (53.1%), and Camarines Norte (52.7%).

All four provinces of ARMM are among the 10 poorest provinces in the country. Also included are 2 of the 6 provinces in the Bicol region.

Table 1. 10 Poorest Provinces in Year 2000

Province	1997	2000	Inc/Dec (%)	Rank 97	Rank '00
Sulu	67.1	63.2	(3.9)	1	1
Masbate	61.4	62.8	1.4	2	2
Tawi-tawi	35.0	56.5	21.5	40	3
Ifugao	57.7	55.6	(2.1)	4	4
Romblon	52.8	55.2	2.4	8	5
Maguindanao	41.6	55.1	13.5	27	6
Lanao del Sur	55.6	55.0	(0.6)	7	7
Sultan Kudarat	36.6	54.3	17.7	38	8
Camiguin	32.5	53.1	20.6	49	9
Camarines Norte	49.7	52.7	3.0	10	10

Source: Social Sectors B Division, NSCB

10 Least Poor Provinces in Year 2000

The 2^nd District (Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City, and San Juan) and 4^th District (Las Piñas, Makati, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pasay City, Pateros, and Taguig) of NCR, posted the lowest poverty incidence with 4.1 and 4.9 percent, respectively. This is followed by Bulacan (5.4%), 1^st District, NCR (Manila) (5.8%), and Batanes (7.5%).

Other provinces with low poverty incidence are: Rizal (8.0%), Laguna (8.6%), 3^rd District, NCR (Valenzuala, Caloocan City, Malabon, Navotas) (9.0%), Bataan (9.9%), and Cavite (10.2%).

Table 2. 10 Least Poor Provinces in Year 2000

Province	1997	2000	Inc/Dec (%)	Rank 97	Rank '00
2nd District, NCR	4.5	4.1	(0.3)	81	81
4th District, NCR	4.6	4.9	0.3	79	80
Bulacan	8.3	5.4	(2.9)	73	79
1st District, NCR	5.7	5.8	0.1	78	78
Batanes	8.7	7.5	(1.2)	72	77
Rizal	8.3	8.0	(0.2)	74	76
Laguna	12.3	8.6	(3.7)	71	75
3rd District, NCR	4.6	9.0	4.4	80	74
Bataan	7.7	9.9	2.3	76	73
Cavite	8.0	10.2	2.1	75	72

Source: Social Sectors B Division, NSCB

At the Regional Level

In urban areas, poverty incidence stood still at 15.0 percent in 1997 and 2000. In rural areas, poverty worsened by 3.56 percentage points from 39.9 percent to 41.4 percent.

Table 3. Poverty Incidence (%) by Region, 1997 and 2000

Region	1997	2000
Philippines	28.1	28.4
NCR - National Capital Region	4.8	5.7
Region I	31.4	29.6
Region II	27.1	24.8
Region III	13.9	17.0
Region IV	22.8	20.8
Region V	46.9	49.0
Region VI	37.2	37.8
Region VII	29.8	32.3
Region VIII	39.9	37.8
Region IX	31.9	38.3
Region X	37.8	32.9
Region XI	31.1	31.5
Region XII	45.3	48.4
CAR	35.9	31.1
ARMM	50.0	57.0
Caraga	44.7	42.9

*Poverty incidence refers to the proportion of families (or population) with per capita income less than the per capita poverty threshold to the total number of families (popualtion)..

Source: Social Sectors B Division, NSCB

At the National Level

Poverty incidence in the country or the proportion of families with per capita incomes below the poverty threshold was placed at 28.1 percent in 1997 and 28.4 percent in 2000. This means that in 2000, 4.3 million families or 26.5 million Filipinos, more than one-third (34.0%) of the country’s population were living below the poverty line. These figures indicate an increase over the 1997 levels of 4.0 million families or 24.0 million Filipinos striving to make ends meet.

The annual per capita poverty threshold or the amount required to satisfy food and non-food basic needs reached P11,605 in 2000, an 18 percent increase over the 1997 threshold of P9,843. Thus, a family of five (5) members should have a monthly income of P4,835 to meet their food and non-food basic needs.

In urban areas, poverty incidence stood still at 15.0 percent in 1997 and 2000. In rural areas, poverty worsened by 1.5 percentage points from 39.9 percent to 41.4 percent.

For further inquiries, please contact Ms. Redencion M. Ignacio or Ms. Jessamyn O. Encarnacion of the NSCB at telephone number (632) 896-5390 or at rm.ignacio@nscb.gov.ph or jo.encarnacion@nscb.gov.ph.

Notes on this Release:

The estimates were computed using a new provincial poverty methodology approved by the NSCB Executive Board last 15 January 2003.
These statistics are prepared by the NSCB Technical Staff and as such are official.
Districts of NCR cover the ff:

1st District - Manila
2nd District - Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City, and San Juan
3rd District - Valenzuela, Caloocan City, Malabon, and Navotas
4th District - Las Pinas, Makati, Muntinlupa, Paranaque, Pasay City, Pateros, and Taguig


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