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

In 2000, about 13.1 percent of the total number of families (or 2 million families) were considered as subsistence families, a slight decrease of 0.5 percentage point over the 1997 subsistence incidence of 13.6 percent or 1.9 million families in 1997. Roughly, about 13 out of every 100 Filipino families are considered as core poor in 2000. This means that the per capita annual incomes of these families are not sufficient to buy their basic food requirements.

Family Subsistence Incidence: Ten Poorest Provinces in Year 2000

Among the provinces, Masbate consistently posted the highest family subsistence incidence in 1997 and 2000, with 39.7 and 42.6 percent, respectively. Although Sulu has consistenctly had the highest poverty incidence in 1997 and 2000, in terms of subsistence incidence, Sulu ranked 2nd with 34.2 percent followed by Romblon, with 33.7 percent. Table 1 shows the ten (10) provinces with the highest subsistence incidence in 2000.

Table 1. Family Subsistence Incidence: Ten Poorest Provinces in Year 2000

PROVINCE	1997	2000
Masbate	39.7	42.6
Sulu	38.2	34.2
Romblon	31.8	33.7
Ifugao	34.8	32.7
Maguindanao	18.2	31.2
Saranggani	26.9	30.9
Lanao del Norte	27.7	30.5
Zamboanga Norte	25.0	30.4
Agusan del Sur	28.7	29.7
Camarines Norte	25.6	28.7

Source: Social Sectors B Division, NSCB

Six (6) of the ten poorest provinces are in Mindanao and four (4) are in Luzon. Also, 2 of the 5 provinces of ARMM and 2 of the 6 provinces in Region V are in the list.

Family Subsistence Incidence: Ten Least Poor Provinces in Year 2000

Batanes posted the lowest subsistence incidence in 2000 with none of its families below the food threshold. This was followed by the 2nd District (Mandaluyong, Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City, and San Juan) with 0.3 percent and the 1st District (Manila) and 4th District (Las Piñas, Makati, Muntinlupa, Parañaque, Pasay City, Pateros, and Taguig) of NCR, both with 0.5 percent.

It could be noted that 6 of the 10 least poor provinces belong to the top 10 provinces/areas in terms of food threshold. Despite the relatively higher minimum requirement to meet the food needs, these provinces still posted the lowest subsistence incidence.

Table 2. Family Subsistence Incidence: Ten Least Poor Provinces/Areas in 2000

PROVINCE	1997	2000
Batanes	4.5	4.1
2nd District, NCR	4.6	4.9
4th District	8.3	5.4
1st District	5.7	5.8
Bulacan	8.7	7.5
Bataan	8.3	8.0
Rizal	12.3	8.6
Cavite	4.6	9.0
Laguna	7.7	9.9
3rd District	8.0	10.2

Note: These provinces/areas are all in Luzon, particularly located in NCR, Regions II, III and IV.

Source: Social Sectors B Division, NSCB

At the Regional Level

Region IX exhibited the highest increase in subsistence incidence by 5.5 percentage points from 14.9 percent in 1997 to 20.4 percent in 2000. On the other hand, CAR posted the highest decrease in subsistence incidence from 19.4 percent in 1997 to 14.2 percent in 2000.

In urban areas, subsistence incidence slightly decreased from 5.6 percent in 1997 to 4.9 percent in 2000. In rural areas, there was a 0.1 percentage point from 20.8 percent in 1997 to 20.9 percent in 2000.

Table 3. Subsistence Incidence of Families by Region (in percent), 1997 and 2000

AREA	TOTAL		Percentage Point Diff (%)
AREA	1997	2000	Percentage Point Diff (%)
Philippines	13.6	13.1	(0.5)
NCR - National Capital Region	0.6	0.7	0.1
Region I	13.7	11.5	(2.2)
Region II	11.1	9.3	(1.8)
Region III	4.0	4.0	0.0
Region IV	8.9	8.1	(0.8)
Region V	26.6	27.8	1.2
Region VI	17.2	18.4	1.2
Region VII	16.9	17.0	0.1
Region VIII	24.3	19.8	(4.4)
Region IX	14.9	20.4	5.5
Region X	18.0	15.0	(2.9)
Region XI	16.4	14.6	(1.8)
Region XII	27.2	25.5	(1.8)
CAR	19.4	14.2	(5.3)
ARMM	22.3	27.2	4.8
Caraga	27.3	23.4	(3.9)

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

Source: Social Sectors B Division, NSCB