The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) has released official poverty estimates for 77 provinces of the country and the four districts of Metro Manila for the years 1997 and 2000.  The estimates were computed using a new provincial poverty methodology approved by the NSCB Executive Board in its meeting on January 15, 2003.  This methodology follows the definition of poverty stipulated under Republic Act 8425, the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act, which refers to the poor as those families and individuals whose income fall below the poverty threshold and who cannot afford in a sustained manner to provide for their minimum basic needs.

The provincial poverty methodology underwent an open and rigorous process of evaluation and revalidation through a series of interagency discussions and consultations with stakeholders and other concerned agencies.  The NSCB conducted two users’ forums to present the new estimation method and both generated positive feedback and reaction on the soundness of the methodology given the data limitations.

This is the first time that NSCB has come up with official poverty statistics at the provincial level, with previous estimates issued only at the national and regional levels.  The whole activity is part of the Philippine Statistical System’s continuing efforts to respond to the demand for more disaggregated statistics and indicators.  The pressing need of the implementors of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services-Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay Project to identify the poorest provinces and other government programs that depend on provincial poverty data to deliver services to the poor was the primary consideration in releasing the provincial poverty statistics.

The resulting estimates placed poverty incidence among Filipino families at 28.1 and 28.4 percent in 1997 and 2000, respectively.  This means that in 2000, 4.3 million families or 26.5 million Filipinos, more than one-third 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 straining to make ends meet.  The ten provinces with the highest proportion of poor families in 2000 were Sulu, Masbate, Tawi-Tawi, Ifugao, Romblon, Maguindanao, Lanao del Sur, Sultan Kudarat, Camiguin, and Camarines Norte.

Income and expenditure data used in the estimation were taken from the Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) conducted by the National Statistics Office.  Due to the limited sample size of the FIES arising from the government’s budgetary constraints, users are advised to carefully take note of the degree of precision computed for each provincial estimate shown in the statistical tables and technical notes when using the statistics for analysis.

For inquiries, please contact Ms. Redencion M. Ignacio or Ms. Jessamyn O. Encarnacion at telephone number 896-5390 or through e-mail addresses rm.ignacio@nscb.gov.ph and jo.encarnacion@nscb.gov.ph.