14 October 2022- The Philippine Statistics Authority Region 7 (PSA 7) conducted the Regional Data Dissemination Forum on the 2021 Full Year Official Poverty Statistics in Central Visayas via blended set-up at Bai Hotel Cebu, Mandaue City.

Usec. Dennis S. Mapa, National Statistician and Civil Registrar General of the Philippine Statistics Authority announced that the proportion of poor individuals in Central Visayas was estimated at 27.6 percent in 2021. This means that 27 out of 100 Filipinos whose income were below the amount needed to buy their basic food and non-food needs.  He further mentioned that the poverty incidence among the population in Central Visayas was observed to be higher than the national poverty incidence among population, which was estimated at 18.1 percent in 2021, 16.7 percent in 2018, and 23.5 percent in 2015.

Meanwhile, poverty incidence among Filipino families in Central Visayas in 2021 was estimated at 22.1 percent.  This means that 22 out of 100 families have incomes below the amount needed to buy their basic food and non-food needs in 2021. An increase of 8.7 percentage points was recorded from the 2018 estimate at 13.4 percent and a decrease of 2.8 percentage point from 2015 which was recorded at 24.9 percent.  The poverty incidence among families in Central Visayas was observed to be higher than the national poverty incidence among families which was estimated at 13.2 percent in 2021, 12.1 percent in 2018, and 18.0 percent in 2015.

Usec. Mapa further added that the food threshold in 2021 for Central Visayas among population was estimated at PHP1,824 and PHP9,122 among families. The poverty threshold in 2021 for Central Visayas among population was estimated at PHP2,062 and PHP13,008 among families. Meanwhile, the subsistence incidence in 2021 for Central Visayas among population was estimated at 10.9% which translates to 0.88 million Filipinos and 8.0% among families which translates to 0.16 million families.

Furthermore, Regional Director of PSA 7, Engr. Ariel E. Florendo announced that the average income of Filipino families in Region 7 from January to December 2021 was estimated at PhP284.89 thousand.

This was lower by -7.5 percent from the PhP308.03 thousand average family income in the same period of 2018. On the average, the Filipino families in Region 7 spent PhP193.71 thousand in 2021, a decrease of -5.1 percent compared to the PhP204.07 thousand average family expenditure in January to December 2018.  It can be observed that the average family income and expenditure of region 7 is lower than the national average, RD Florendo further said.

OIC-Regional Director of the National Economic and Development Authority 7, Engr. Dolores J. Molintas noted on the increasing poverty threshold and poverty incidence in Central Visayas. To lift more people out from poverty, a nation approach is necessary where everyone from the government and private sector is expected to play the significant role, OIC-RD Molintas said. The eight-point socio economic agenda of the Marcos administration is towards addressing these challenges.  The overall goal of the current administration is to re-invigorate job creation and reduce poverty by steering the economy back to its high growth path. More importantly, transform the economy to a more prosperous, inclusive, and resilient society, OIC-RD Molintas added.

With the poverty statistics presented, it is the challenge of the government and private sector to work together for a progressive and resilient society where no one is left behind. We are optimistic that the country can attain an economic recovery on the coming years, Chief Statistical Specialist of PSA-Siquijor, Aurelia M. Canda mentioned in her closing remarks.