BUTUAN CITY – Caraga Region’s poverty incidence among families dropped to 20.3 percent in 2023 from 31.0 percent in 2021 and 28.3 percent in 2018, according to data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority-Region 13 (PSA-13) Tuesday.
The region also recorded a significant drop in the incidence of poverty among the population at 28.1 percent in 2023 from 38.3 percent in 2021.
Among the provinces, PSA-13 said Surigao del Norte had the lowest poverty incidence among families last year, with 12.5 percent compared to 27.4 percent in 2021; while Surigao del Sur recorded 20.1 percent in 2023 compared to 27.4 in 2021.
Surigao del Norte likewise logged the lowest poverty incidence last year in terms population at 17.7 percent compared to 33.5 percent in 2021 and 39.5 percent in 2018, the PSA-13 report said.
The poverty incidence in Agusan del Norte similarly decreased to 20.8 percent last year from 27.8 in 2021, and Agusan del Sur with 25.9 drop in 2023 from 39.6 in 2021.
Only Dinagat Islands logged an increase in poverty incidence among families last year, with 30.7 percent compared to 30.3 percent in 2021.
In poverty incidence among population, Agusan del Norte had 27.1 percent compared to 34.9 percent in 2021; while Surigao del Sur was down to 28 percent in 2023 compared to 34.9 in 2021.
Agusan del Sur also recorded 35.2 percent in 2023 compared to 45.3 in 2021; while Dinagat Islands logged an increase at 37.8 percent compared to 37.1 percent in 2021 and a 11.0 percent in 2018.
The PSA defines poverty incidence among the population as the proportion of Filipinos whose per capita income cannot sufficiently meet their individual basic food and non-food needs.
In terms of families, they are those whose incomes are below the poverty threshold.
Caraga Region also recorded a decrease in subsistence incidence (income not sufficient to meet the basic food needs) among families at 7.5 percent last year compared to 14.7 percent in 2021 and among the population at 11 percent in 2023 compared to 19.1 percent in 2021 and 14.7 percent in 2018. (PNA)
