Southern Leyte is least poor in region 8, but poverty incidence worsening

By BONG PEDALINO (PIA Southern Leyte)
February 12, 2007

MAASIN CITY, Leyte – There is both good news and bad news on the poverty situation in Southern Leyte province.

First the good news. The province has been rated the least poor in all the provinces in Region 8 that it was no longer listed as a priority in poverty mapping.

Now the bad news. The number of poor families has risen -- worsening was the term used -- in a span of three years, from the year 2000 to 2003.

This much information complete with details in figures was shared by Evangeline Paran, the Regional Administrator of the National Statistics Coordinating Board, an attached agency under the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA).

Discussing on the topic "Poverty profile of Southern Leyte" during the Provincial Development Council (PDC) meeting at the RK Kangleon Function House, this city, February 7, Paran said the poverty data based on household income and expenditures were gathered every three years, the latest of which reflected the conditions for the year 2000, and another in 2003.

In Region 8 as a whole, 35 out of every 100 families were poor, and this made the region the 7th poorest out of 17 regions in the country for the year 2000 and 2003 rankings.

Out of six provinces in the region, Southern Leyte has 31.9 out of 100 families labeled as poor for the year 2003, up from 26.3 out of 100 families in 2000, NSCB Regional Administrator Paran disclosed.

The trend showed a "worsening of poverty situation," Paran said.

The 2003 data of poor families, rounded at 32 out of 100 families, were reclassified further as subsistence poor wanting on food requirements, in which there were 11 out of 100 families, and non-food poor that are lacking in education and housing, 22 out of 100 families.

PIA was unable to get hold of a copy of the papers presented so no more details can be presented as this report was written.

Asked what caused the poverty increase, Paran was not able to provide an answer, tossing the question instead to the PDC audience.

But Provincial Board Member Eva Tomol, who presided the PDC meeting, offered some insights into the cause, citing the lingering abaca bunchy top disease, the Panaon disaster, the continuous rains that damaged rice plants, and the population growth which has not reduced.