TOP 10 AREAS IN THE PHILIPPINES THAT ARE CONSIDERED POOR:

1. LANAO DEL SUR

CURRENT STATUS:
Unfortunately, despite its tremendous potential, Lanao del Sur has remained
impoverished, and it is now considered the Philippines' worst province, with a poverty
incidence of 68.9 percent. Lanao del Sur has the highest per capita poverty and food
thresholds in ARMM, with PhP14,769 and PhP10,312 respectively. This sad situation is
mostly due to the collapse of peace and order that has afflicted this area of the south for
so long, as well as the failure to adequately develop the agricultural sector. Lanao's
politics have been dominated by a few dynasty clans from its inception, with citizens
forced to rely on their patrons for survival. Rido or family feuds, abduction, car napping,
theft, gambling, and illegal narcotics define the anarchic condition. There is insufficient
access to the government's social services and economic development initiatives, and
socioeconomic challenges are exacerbated by a shaky and badly maintained road
network caused by neglect.

2. APAYAO

CURRENT STATUS:
Despite its agricultural development, Apayao remains the Philippines' second
poorest province, with a poverty rate of 59.8 percent. For the First Semester, the
Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) poverty line was assessed to be PhP12,352 per
capita. This indicates that a monthly average income of PhP2,059 was required to cover
both basic food and non-food requirements. Apayao has the highest per capita poverty
and food thresholds in Cordillera, with PhP 10,469 and PhP 7,310 respectively.
3. EASTERN SAMAR

CURRENT STATUS:
In 2018, the poverty rate among families in Eastern Samar was predicted to be
59.4 percent, ranking it third in the Philippines. One in every four households in the
region is poor or has an income that is less than the poverty line, which is the amount
necessary to fulfill basic food and non-food needs. Farming and fishing continue to be
the province's primary economic activity, employing about three-fourths of the total
estimated working people. Agriculture and fisheries production continue to be a drag on
the province's economy. Eastern Samar has the lowest palay production in the whole
area. One of the primary issues in rice cultivation is the absence of functioning irrigation
infrastructure, the infestation of rice black bug and other pests and illnesses, and
farmers' reliance on coconut production. On this basis, the province continues to import
rice from other provinces and neighboring areas.

4. MAGUINDANAO

CURRENT STATUS:
The poverty incidence among families in Maguindanao was estimated to 57.8
percent, despite a 92 percent employment rate and an annual per capita poverty
threshold of PhP 15,556.00, which is somewhat higher than the national average,
Maguindanao remains one of the poorest provinces in the country. With a population of
over one million people in 2006, the province's poverty rate is over three times greater
than the national average. Maguindanao is also a "mainstay" on the list of the 10
provinces with the greatest income disparity, poverty gap, and severity of poverty. Even
with a higher yearly per capita food threshold, i.e. the "cost of the food required to meet
nutritional needs for economically essential and socially desirable physical activities,"
subsidence among families is twice as high as the national average of 11%.
5. ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE

CURRENT STATUS:
With a poverty rate of about 50.3 percent and the highest magnitude of poor
population in Zamboanga Peninsula. Zamboanga del Norte is ranked fifth in the
Philippines. Furthermore, impoverished households have five people and a monthly
income of less than Php8, 778. Majority of municipalities (24 out of 27 municipalities)
belonged to high poverty incidence areas except dipolog and dapitan cities including
sindangan municipality. In terms of significant indicators on poverty incidence of this
province, it was found out that the population, proportion of households with no access
to potable water, no sanitary toilet, elementary cohort survival rate, secondary
participation rate and households with lot owned or amortized did influence the poverty
situation in zamboanga del norte. The present findings of the study suggested that in
order to alleviate poverty in the province of zamboanga del norte, the concerned
agencies of the government i.e. The deped, doh and da must address or solve the
problems of the municipalities anent health and sanitation, education and land tenure.

6. DAVAO ORIENTAL

CURRENT STATUS:
Davao Oriental has the slowest growth rate of the six provinces (Compostela
Valley, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Oriental, Sarangani, and South
Cotabato) and two highly urbanized cities in Southern Mindanao (Davao City and
General Santos City). With the poverty incidence of 48%, Davao Oriental is the sixth
poorest province in the Philippines. The intensity of rainfall is expected to grow by 69
percent in the future, resulting in an increase in the size of floods. The resultant flood risk
 map reveals that 95.91 percent of Davao Oriental is currently in the low and moderate
flood risk categories, with those categories expected to drop somewhat in the future to
95.75 percent. Approximately 3% of the land area is covered by high and extremely high
flood risk zones. The high and extremely high flood risk regions now cover roughly 3% of
the province and show no significant change in the future. Currently, 28 of the 183
barangays (towns) are at high or very high risk of flooding, while only one barangay will
be added to the very high risk of flooding in the next years. These barangays in the high
and very high flood risk categories are mostly located on riverbanks and along
coastlines. As a result, quick action by decision-makers is required to establish a
community-based catastrophe risk strategy under future conditions.

7. IFUGAO

CURRENT STATUS:
The poverty threshold of the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) for the First
Semester of 2018 was estimated at PhP12,352 per capita. This means that, an
individual needed a minimum monthly average income of PhP2,059 to meet both basic
food and non-food needs. This translates to a minimum of PhP10,293 monthly take
home income for a family of five to be considered not poor. The province of Ifugao
recorded the second highest threshold with PhP12,944, an increase of 3.1 percent from
PhP12,553 poverty threshold. The current poverty in Ifugao is 47.5 percent that placed it
as the 7th poorest province in the Philippines. This happen due to the failure to
adequately develop their agricultural sector.

8. SARANGANI
 CURRENT STATUS:
The province of Sarangani was described as self-sufficient, competitive, and
globalized. However, in past years, studies have identified the province as one of the 20
poorest in the country. It was ranked third poorest in 2004, 11th poorest in 2006, and is
currently ranked 8th, with a poverty incidence of 46.5 percent. The following factors are
used to determine which provinces are among the top 20 poorest in the country: school
quality, access to health care, and access to drinkable water.

9. NEGROS ORIENTAL

CURRENT STATUS:
According to the most recent study, Negros Oriental remains in the top ten list of
the poorest provinces in the country, with a poverty incidence of 45.3 percent. Negros
Oriental remains among the top 10 of the country's 16 poorest provinces, and the
majority of municipalities with high poverty incidence are situated in the first district.
According to the report, one in every four persons in Negros Oriental do not have access
to a proper toilet and must rely on open defecation. The problem is that most tourism
money goes to Dumaguete, and the beach resorts are primarily in the 3rd District. It may
be claimed that because Dumaguete and the Third District are also part of Negros
Oriental, any commercial activity that occurs there helps the entire Province. However,
until development is spread fairly across the three electoral districts, Negros Oriental will
continue to have the problem and the stigma of being a region where one out of every
four inhabitants lacks access to a good toilet.
 10. MASBATE

CURRENT STATUS:
Masbate is rich in natural resources, yet it is also one of the poorest provinces in
the country, with a poverty rate of 44.2 percent. Poverty is a serious issue that continues
because the poor lack access to and control over essential resources needed to
enhance income in many economic activities. Ninety percent (90%) of the rural poor in
the province are farmers involved in the rice business. Farmers are the most
disadvantaged agents in the rice sector, according to the value chain study, and they are
confronted with a web of discriminatory circumstances that explain why farmers stay
impoverished. Farmers' impoverishment is caused by two primary factors: their
incapacity to govern their own resources and their lack of access to support services.
Despite these challenges, possibilities and potentials abound that are simply waiting to
be realized in order to reverse the province's poverty trajectory.

COMMON PROBLEMS and SOLUTIONS:

FAILURE TO FULLY DEVELOP THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR

In a forum organized by Greenpeace Philippines, Nheden Sarne of the Agricultural

Commodities Division of the National Economic and Development Authority said there are a lot
more improvements needed before the country’s agricultural sector achieves its full potential.
While the bulk of the programs of the Department of Agriculture (DA) are commodity-centric.
1. Encourage investments in agriculture that promote area-based development

The Philippines is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. There is no
problem of getting left behind as each area is prioritized through specific development
programs.
2. Prioritize investments that can increase and sustain productivity

Agriculture is one of the fastest growing industries in the world, according to a

new report by the Irish government. The report says there are many opportunities for
growth in the sector if it is improved from production to marketing.
3. Ensure well-functioning irrigation systems and an efficient transport
infrastructure

A Filipino farmer, says an improved irrigation system in the Philippines can

increase productivity by 15% to 20%.
4. Invest in programs that will increase resilience to climate risks and disasters, as
well as pests and diseases

Climate change has contributed to the burden that hinders growth in the sector.
Farmers are the most affected by typhoons and other effects of climate change,
according to a report from the Department of Agriculture DA. If possible, climate-resilient
crops should be available.
5. Promote greater private sector investments and support
Agri-business schemes such as contract farming can be used by the private
sector. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) defines contract farming as
"agricultural production carried out according to an agreement between a buyer and
farmers".
Prioritize farmers

The FAO has called on the government to consider the welfare of farmers when
implementing agriculture programs and projects. Both farmers and private institutions
can benefit from contract farming, according to the UN's Food and Agriculture
Organization FAO. The agency said it is important to keep in mind that farmers should
be kept in mind.
LOW TO MODERATE ECONOMIC GROWTH

As the Philippines emerges from strict lockdown, it has become the government’s
highest priority to prevent an economic crisis: the country is in its first recession in three
decades. To support the Philippine Government’s economic recovery program, Australia
works innovatively with key partners to strengthen policies and institutions and advance
inclusive economic growth.
1. Advancing Multilateral Partnerships for Economic Development (AMPED)
Advancing Multilateral Partnerships for Economic Development (AMPED)
supports inclusive economic growth by working with key multilateral financial institutions
(MFIs) to strengthen the Philippine Government’s economic management capacity.
AMPED is a catalytic investment designed to leverage substantially larger MFI resources
to positively influence Philippine Government development policies.
2. Strengthening Public Private Partnership (PPP) Program
The Strengthening Philippines PPP Program seeks to assist the Philippines’
government create an environment that harnesses more private sector finance and to
use that finance more effectively to deliver infrastructure and facilitate the faster
movement of people, goods, and services within the Philippines.
Agreements are delivered through the Asian Development Bank (ADB), World
Bank and the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
3. A Future that Works

The A Future That Works Project supports key industries with workforce
development initiatives to manage the challenge of technological disruption. It will
facilitate collaboration among business leaders and with relevant government agencies
through the establishment of Sector Skills Councils that will identify and address
emerging skills needs.
4. Direct Aid Program (DAP)
The Direct Aid Program (DAP) contributes to the COVID-19 response efforts of
Australia in the Philippines by assisting NGOs and community organizations implement
 activities that respond to the needs of vulnerable groups affected by the pandemic.
Initiatives supported under this flexible small grants facility include:
 Income generation and sustainable livelihoods to enable people affected by
COVID-19 to participate in local economic activities
 Provision of essential relief to vulnerable groups and communities badly
affected by COVID-19
 Provision of community water and sanitation facilities to promote hygiene
 Support to ancillary activities addressing associated COVID-19 risks including
public health messaging and promoting safeguards during quarantine.
5. Investing in Women

Women's economic empowerment is a priority for the Australian Government. A

program that champions women and girls, the Investing in Women initiative was
established to improve women's economic participation, build markets for women and
influence the private and public sector to promote women's economic empowerment in
the Philippines, Vietnam, Myanmar and Indonesia. The initiative works with the private
sector to achieve business and workplace gender equality, and partner with
governments and civil society to design laws, policies, and programs to ensure
institutional and regulatory standards are effectively implemented and benefit women
and girls. The initiative is focusing on the following priority areas:
 improving women's participation in the workforce, and as business leaders.
 enhancing women's voice in decision making and leadership, and
 influencing the private and public sectors to recognize and promote the value
of gender equality.

HIGH LEVELS OF POPULATION GROWTH

1) Empowering women and girls

Empowering women and girls is one of the most powerful solutions to our
greatest environmental and social crises. Where women are empowered to choose what
happens to their bodies and lives, fertility rates plummet. This means freedom to pursue
education and a career, economic independence, and easy access to sexual and
reproductive healthcare.
2) Removing barriers to contraception
Currently, more than 200 million women who want to avoid pregnancy are not
using modern contraception. This is due to lack of access, concerns about side-effects
and social pressure from male partners. Overseas aid support for family planning is
essential in ensuring levels are high enough.
3) Quality education for all

Many kids in developing countries are out of school, with girls affected more than
boys due to gender inequality. Education opens doors and provides disadvantaged kids
and young people with a "way out", says 's Jodie Whittaker. African women with no
education have 5.4 children; women who have completed secondary school have 2.7.
4) Alleviating poverty and global justice
The UN projects that population growth over the next century will be driven by
the world's very poorest countries. International aid, fair trade and global justice are all
tools to help bring global population back to sustainable levels. The solutions above all
help to decrease poverty and lower child mortality.
5) Exercising the choice

In the developed world, most of us have the power to choose the size of our
families. In the UK, for instance, each individual produces 70 times more carbon dioxide
emissions than someone from Niger. Smaller families are one positive choice we can
make, according to a new report.