The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) releases updates on the 2023 Full Year Official Poverty Statistics based on the results of the 2023 Family Income and Expenditure Survey. The 2023 Full Year Official Poverty Statistics was initially released on 22 July 2024 covering data at the national level. The updated report includes poverty estimates disaggregated at regional, provincial, and highly urbanized city levels.

Poverty Threshold

In 2023, Baguio City's annual poverty threshold was estimated at PhP31,654, reflecting a growth rate of 12.6 percent compared to PhP28,108 in 2021. This suggests that a family of five needed at least PhP13,189 per month to cover their basic food and non-food expenses.

In contrast, higher annual poverty thresholds were observed at the regional and national levels. The poverty threshold in the Cordillera was estimated at PhP31,774, while the national threshold was PhP33,296. These amounts were PhP120 and PhP1,642 higher than Baguio City's threshold, respectively (Table 1).

Table 1. Annual Poverty Threshold, Philippines, CAR & Baguio City: 
2018, 2021 & 2023

Poverty Incidence Among Families and Magnitude

Poverty incidence among families in the City of Baguio decreased to 0.5 percent in 2023. This implies that nearly 1 in every 100 families was considered poor or had income below the amount needed to afford the minimum basic food and non-food needs. This was lower than the estimates in 2018 (1.5%) and 2021 (1.0%). In comparison, higher poverty incidences were estimated at national and regional levels. These were posted at 10.9 percent and 4.4 percent, respectively.

In addition, the number of poor families in Baguio City was estimated at 1,080 in 2021. This dropped to 530 in 2023, representing a 49.1% decrease. A similar trend was seen nationwide, where the number of poor families decreased from 3,481,830 in 2021 to 2,992,010 in 2023. At the regional level, the number of poor families in 2021 was 30,740, which fell to 20,440 in 2023 (Table 2).

Table 2. Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Families, Philippines, CAR & Baguio City: 2018, 2021 & 2023

Poverty Incidence Among Population and Magnitude

In 2023, Baguio City recorded a poverty incidence of 0.8 percent among its population, meaning nearly 1 in every 100 individuals was considered poor. This was lower than the 2.3% in 2018 and 1.7% in 2021. In addition, higher poverty incidences were observed at the national level, with an estimate of 15.5%, and at the regional level with 7.0%.

Moreover, a total of 2,980 individuals in Baguio City were classified as poor in 2023. This showed a downward trend since 2018, when the number was 8,240, and a decrease from 2021, which had 6,220 individuals in poverty.

In contrast, a downward trend was also seen nationwide, with the number of poor individuals decreasing from 19,902,750 in 2021 to 17,538,860 in 2023. Similarly, in CAR, the number of poor individuals dropped from 180,710 in 2021 to 129,000 in 2023 (Table 3).

 
Table 3. Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, Philippines, CAR & Baguio City: 2018, 2021 & 2023

Food Threshold

In 2023, Baguio City's food threshold was set at PhP21,936, representing an 11.8% increase from PhP19,628 in 2021. This means that a family of five required PhP9,140 per month to meet their basic food needs. 

In comparison, food thresholds estimated for the national and regional levels were higher. The national figure increased to PhP22,994 from PhP20,046 in 2021, or 14.7% increase, while the regional figure increased to PhP22,257 from PhP19,795 or 12.4% increase (Table 4).

Table 4. Annual Food Threshold, Philippines, CAR & Baguio City: 
2018, 2021 & 2023

Subsistence Incidence Among Families and Magnitude

In 2021, the subsistence incidence among families was estimated at 0.1% from 0.2% in 2018. This means that there was a very small proportion of the population living below the minimum level of resources or income required to meet basic food needs. Also, there were about 160 food-poor families in 2018, which declined to 80 families in 2021. 

Additionally, the national and regional figures posted declining patterns. In 2021, 3.9% percent, or 1,032,630 families nationwide, were classified as food-poor. This number went down to 741,730, or significantly by 28.2% in 2023. Meanwhile, CAR posted a continuous decline since 2018 with 2.2%, 2021 with 1.4%, and declined further to 0.7% in 2023. This implies the existence of 6,120 and 3,330 food-poor families in 2021 and 2023, respectively (Table 5).

Table 5. Subsistence Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Families, Philippines, CAR & Baguio City: 2018, 2021 & 2023

Subsistence Incidence Among Population and Magnitude

Among the population, Baguio City posted 0.2 percent of subsistence incidence in 2021 from 0.3 percent in 2018. This is equivalent to 750 and 1,040 food-poor individuals, respectively. The figures indicate a very small proportion of individuals living below the food threshold.

In addition, the national subsistence incidence was posted at 4.3 percent in 2023 from 5.9 percent in 2021. This is equal to 4,837,640 food-poor individuals in 2023 and 6,487,530 in 2021. Likewise, CAR posted a consistent decreasing scenario from 3.3 percent in 2018 to 2.2 percent in 2021, which further declined to 1.3 percent in 2023. This translates to 23,790 individuals in CAR classified as food-poor (Table 6).

Table 6. Subsistence Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, Philippines, CAR & Baguio City: 2018, 2021 & 2023

Poverty and Food Thresholds Across HUCs Outside NCR

Among the seventeen highly urbanized cities outside the National Capital Region (NCR), Baguio City ranked sixth with the lowest annual per capita poverty threshold in 2023. The City of General Santos came first with PhP28,580 from PhP24,930 in 2021. The City of Lucena followed with PhP29,429 from PhP28,324 in 2021, and the City of Butuan came third with PhP29,503 from PhP28,455 in 2021.

In terms of the annual per capita food threshold, Baguio City ranked seventh with the lowest amount required to meet basic food needs. The City of General Santos was the lowest with PhP19,599 from PhP17,409, followed by the City of Butuan with PhP20,463 from PhP19,870. The City of Lucena came in third with PhP20,550 from PhP19,778 in 2021.

The City of Angeles posted the highest poverty and food threshold across HUCs outside NCR. The figures were posted at PhP38,167 and PhP26,652 in 2023, respectively. The estimates were significantly higher by PhP4,871 (poverty threshold) and PhP3,658 (food threshold) than the national threshold (Table 7).

Table 7. Annual Per Capita Poverty and Food Threshold Outside NCR by HUC: 2018, 2021 & 2023

(SGD)
VILLAFE P. ALIBUYOG
Regional Director

TECHNICAL NOTES

Poor - refers to individuals and families whose income fall below the poverty threshold as defined by the National Economic and Development Authority and/or cannot afford in a sustained manner to provide their minimum basic needs of food, health, education, housing and other essential amenities of life (R.A. 8425)

Poverty Threshold – the minimum income required for a family or individual to meet the basic food and non-food needs (clothing, housing, transportation, health, and education expenses).

Poverty Incidence – the number of individuals with income below the per capita poverty thresholds divided by the total population of Ifugao.

Food Threshold – the minimum income required for a family or individual to meet the basic needs and satisfy the nutritional requirements set by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI) for economically and social productive.

Subsistence Incidence – the proportion of people in extreme or subsistence poverty.