ILOILO CITY: The poverty incidence in Western Visayas has significantly decreased to 9.8 percent in 2023, down from 12.1 percent recorded in 2021, according to information released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on Friday.
According to Philippines News Agency, PSA Officer-in-Charge Regional Director Nelida Amolar highlighted the findings during the regional dissemination of the 2023 Full Year Poverty Statistics of Western Visayas. The data revealed that 10 out of every 100 families in the region are now considered poor, having income below the required level to meet essential food and non-food needs. This regional poverty incidence is notably below the national average of 10.9 percent, positioning Western Visayas as the seventh region with the lowest poverty rates across the nation.
The report indicates that approximately 119,000 families in the region earn less than the poverty threshold, a reduction from 140,000 families in 2021. Amolar also noted the decline in poverty incidence in several
provinces, including Aklan, which dropped to 3.1 percent from 13.9 percent, Antique to 13.8 percent from 18.2 percent, and Guimaras to 3.8 percent from 7.3 percent. Similarly, Iloilo City’s poverty rate decreased to 2.3 percent from 3.3 percent, while Iloilo province saw a decline to 12.7 percent from 14.5 percent.
Conversely, the province of Capiz saw an increase in poverty incidence from 6.1 percent to 9.8 percent, along with Negros Occidental, which experienced a rise to 25.7 percent from 19.3 percent, and Bacolod City, which increased to 6.2 percent from 3.4 percent.
The poverty incidence among the population in the region also saw a decrease, reaching 13.7 percent, which translates to 664,000 individuals living below the poverty threshold, a decline from 820,000 in 2021. Amolar explained that the average poverty threshold for a family of five is PHP13,801 per month, marking the minimum required to cover essential needs.
National Economic and Development Authority Regional Director Arecio Casing Jr. em
phasized the role of the tourism sector, particularly in Boracay Island, in contributing to the decrease in poverty incidence in Aklan, citing an increase in tourist arrivals after the pandemic. Casing suggested that other provinces could replicate this success by leveraging their unique resources to promote tourism and services.