PIO-Biliran
Naval, Biliran – The Province of Biliran, once included in the Club 20 poorest provinces in the country, now emerges with the lowest poverty incidence among the 6 provinces in Eastern Visayas.
The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) released last April 23, 2013 the 2012 First Semester Official Provincial Poverty Statistics which presented to the public the official provincial poverty statistics in accordance with Executive Order No. 352.
For 2012, Biliran’s poverty incidence among families is at 20.7 percent, compared to 34.6 percent in 2009 or a decrease of 13.9 percentage points. The NSCB releases poverty statistics every three years. In 2006, the province’s poverty incidence was at 24.2 percent.
The poverty incidence refers to the proportion of families with per capita income less than the per capita poverty threshold to the total number of families. For 2012, the per capita poverty threshold for Biliran is P8,553.00, which represents the minimum income required to meet the basic food requirements and non-food basic needs.
Of the six provinces in Eastern Visayas, Biliran posted a poverty incidence of 20.7%, Western Samar – 36.0%, Southern Leyte – 36.4%, Leyte – 31.9%, Northern Samar – 43.7% and Eastern Samar – 59.4%.
In the clustering of provinces (1 to 5) for the 2012 poverty incidence, where cluster 1 indicates the bottom (poorest) cluster of provinces, Biliran is the only province in Region 8 included in Cluster 3; Western Samar, Southern Leyte and Leyte in Cluster 2, while Northern and Eastern Samar were included in Cluster 1.
Of the 18 provinces in Cluster 3, Biliran still ranked first with the lowest poverty incidence of 20.7%, the second lowest is Aklan at 21.0% and third lowest is Batanes at 21.4%.
Biliran Governor Gerry Boy Espina is upbeat that the decrease in poverty incidence is an indication of the successful programs that were implemented and the support of all sectoral groups to his governance when he assumed the gubernatorial post in 2010.
He is confident that with the continued cooperation among the LGUs, the national line agencies, and people’s groups, and the people of Biliran, the province will still continue to reduce its number of poor families in the future.
