COTABATO CITY—The poverty incidence among families in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) decreased from 55.9 percent in 2018 to 29.8 percent in 2021 according to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) during a forum held on Thursday, Oct. 13, in this city.
Based the 2021 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES), BARMM’s poverty incidence among families record at 29.8 percent translates that 0.23 million considered as poor among BARMM families; 37.4 percent of people in BARMM in 2021, which translates to 1.71 million, are considered as poor families or below the poverty threshold.
Poverty incidence is defined as the proportion of families/individuals with per capita income/expenditure less than the per capita poverty threshold to the total number of families/individuals.
Lanao del Sur province recorded 10.9% from 71.2%; Maguindanao at 38.0% from 48.5%; Basilan at 53.5% from 73.5%; Sulu at 62.5% at 82.5%; Tawi-Tawi at 22.2% from 36.5%; and Cotabato City at 39.7% from 42.0%.
“Ang pagtaas ng income ng bawat pamilya mula noong 2018 hanggang 2021, mapapansin na mas mabilis at mas malaki ito kumpara sa pagtaas ng poverty threshold. Dahil dito ay bumaba ang poverty incidence mula 2018 to 2021 sa BARMM region,” said PSA Officer-In-Charge Regional Director Engr. Akan Tula.
According to PSA, the poverty threshold also known as the poverty line is the minimum income required for a family or individual to meet the basic food and non-foods.
The overall result indicates that a poverty threshold of about Php11,957.00 on average per month whose income is enough to meet their basic needs. A person should have at least Php2,391.00 on average per month to meet his/her basic food and non-food needs in 2021.
Tula disclosed the reasons for the continued decrease in poverty incidence in the Bangsamoro region, explaining that Lanao del Sur province is no longer included in the poorest provinces category.
“It is now one of the least poor provinces in BARMM despite 2017 Marawi siege,” he said.
“Hindi naman lahat ay nakatira sa Marawi City […] from Balabagan, Malabang to Marawi, nagkaroon na ng mga establishments sa daan. Of course, kailangan nila ng mga materials at dahil doon kumikilos ang economic activities nito. Ang mga tao dito ay may kanya-kanyang hanap buhay kaya bumaba ang poverty,” he added.
In relation to its significant improvement in three years and addressing such poverty, the Bangsamoro Government continues to implement various projects, programs, and services to far-flung communities.
Bangsamoro Planning and Development Authority (BPDA) Assistant Regional Director Melanie Indar, representing Director-General Engr. Mohajirin Ali, said the Bangsamoro Government is doing its part to continue decreasing the poverty level in the region.
“Ang Bangsamoro Government, particularly the Office of the Chief Minister (OCM), ay may iba’t ibang flagship projects for livelihood program. Nariyan din ang mga ipinapatayong infrastructures na makakatulong na magkaroon ng mga trabaho ang mga tao sa baba which is calculated para mabawasan ang kahirapan sa BARMM,” said Indar. (Johaira Sahidala/BIO)
