On-Going Activity

The NSCB envisions to replicate the poverty mapping efforts initiated in Laguna and Albay to all the provinces. Thus, as early as March 2003, communications were sent to the local government units (LGUs) requesting for data on selected indicators. Based on data gathered, the production of maps for the poorest 44 provinces of the country will be completed by October this year. In 2004, the NSCB intends to come up with poverty maps covering the rest of the provinces.

Twenty-six (26) of the poorest 44 provinces have already submitted the data requirements (as of September 2, 2003). Interestingly, the provinces of La Union, Guimaras and Compostela Valley also submitted data for their provinces although they were not included in the list of poorest 44 provinces. La Union ranked 45th in the list of poorest provinces. In the case of Guimaras, poverty maps for their province were presented during the launching of the 1st Provincial Statistical Information Center in May 2003. On the other hand, Compostela Valley was considered since its mother province, Davao del Norte is included in the list of poorest 44.

The same poverty mapping methodology used for the pilot provinces is being followed in the production of maps for all the provinces that submitted the data requirements, except for some improvements in the data collection process and in the color scheme and legend attachment of maps. Municipal level data for the MBN indicators are being collected from the PPDOs using standard table formats for consistency of basic data submission among provinces. A standard color scheme has likewise been adapted for the maps. Cool and hot colors (represented by green and red, respectively) are now used to highlight the situation of municipalities instead of just using different shades of green. Municipalities with better performance relative to the whole province are shaded with cool colors, while those with poorer performance are represented with hot colors. Corresponding descriptive terms are likewise incorporated in the legend attachment of maps for better interpretation of each range of index value and color shade used.

[1] Not included in the list of poorest 44 provinces but submitted data requirements for their province.