BARMM has highest poverty incidence in Mindanao – NAPC

DAVAO CITY – The National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) has identified the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) as the area with the highest poverty incidence in Mindanao.

In a press briefing here Wednesday, NAPC Secretary Lope Santos III said the result was based on the family income and expenditures survey last year, which puts BARMM's poverty incidence rate at 16.4 percent.

However, Santos clarified that despite topping the poverty incidence in Mindanao, BARMM recorded a 20 percent reduction from 2018 to 2021 due to peace and developments in the area.

“This is due to the businesses in BARMM and the Marawi rehabilitation, which created employment for the people there,” Santos said.

Following BARMM in the list are Caraga Region, Eastern Visayas (Region 8), and Bicol Region (Region 5).

Various provinces in BARMM, Sarangani, and Davao Occidental, all in Mindanao, also fall under Category 1 in terms of poverty incidence.

“NAPC focused on these provinces, and we prioritized the convergence of programs in these areas,” he said.

Poverty incidence is based on the five fundamental rights of the poor which include the right to food, employment and livelihood, quality education, shelter; and basic health services and medicines.

“These are our basis. This is what they lack and that is where we identify the poverty incidence of each province,” Santos said.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), approximately 19.9 million Filipinos live below the poverty threshold of around PHP12,030 per month for a family of five.

“We are also looking at the income threshold, multi-poverty index. What we do is convergence efforts, and we are mandated to implement the national poverty reduction plan,” Santos said.

Local government units are also tasked to formulate and implement their plans to reduce poverty, he added. (PNA)