TACLOBAN CITY: Eastern Visayas recorded a notable decrease in poverty incidence, dropping 1.9 percentage points from 22.2 percent in 2021 to 20.3 percent last year. This decline translates to an additional 10,264 individuals overcoming poverty during this period, according to recent reports.
According to Philippines News Agency, the reduction in poverty was highlighted by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Assistant Regional Director Jam Colas-Villaber, who referred to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Over the last seven years, the region improved its poverty ranking among the country’s 17 regions, moving from the third poorest in 2018 to fifth in the latest report.
Villaber attributed the decreased poverty rate to several factors including the recent wage increase, enhanced government cash assistance programs, and a year free from major natural disasters which typically set back economic progress. Despite these gains, Villaber emphasized the need for continued effort
s to meet the targets set in the Regional Development Plan, noting that 1.34 million people in Eastern Visayas still live below the poverty line.
The poverty threshold for a family of five in Eastern Visayas was calculated at PHP13,492 per month last year, necessary to cover basic food and non-food needs. This is an increase from the PHP11,187 required monthly in 2021.
PSA Eastern Visayas Regional Director Wilma Perante explained, “The poverty incidence of 20.3 percent among families implies that about one in every five families in the region was poor or had incomes below the poverty threshold.”
The report also revealed varying trends across the region’s provinces over the past three years. While five provinces saw reductions in poverty levels, Northern Samar experienced an increase in poverty rate from 19.3 percent to 21.8 percent, largely due to severe flooding in late 2023. In contrast, Biliran and Southern Leyte made significant strides, with poverty rates decreasing to 8.5 percent and 7.1 percent, re
spectively.
These figures were derived from the 2023 Family Income and Expenditure Survey, which assesses family income against their ability to meet basic food and non-food needs.