The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) releases the 2023 Full Year Official Poverty Statistics based on the results of the 2023 Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES). 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, Benguet province's annual poverty threshold was recorded at PhP31,205, reflecting a 13.8% increase from PhP27,432 in 2021. This indicates that a family of five required at least PhP13,002 per month to meet their basic food and non-food needs.

In contrast, higher annual poverty threshold was noted at the regional level. The poverty threshold estimated for the Cordillera Administrative Region was PhP31,774. This amount was PhP569 higher than Benguet provinces’ threshold (Table 1).

Table 1. Annual Poverty Threshold, CAR, and Benguet Province: 
2018, 2021 & 2023

Poverty Incidence Among Families and Magnitude

Poverty incidence among families in the province of Benguet decreased to 4.2% in 2023. This implies that about 4 in every 100 families were 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 (6.6%) and 2021 (6.2%). In comparison, higher poverty incidence was estimated for the regional level. This was posted at 6.9% in 2021 which decreased to 4.4% in 2023.

Additionally, the number of poor families in the province of Benguet was 7,650 in 2018. This increased to 7,930 in 2021, representing a 3.7% percent decrease. By 2023, the number dropped to 5,610 poor families indicating a significant 29.3% decline (Table 2).

Table 2. Poverty Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Families, CAR & Benguet Province: 2018, 2021 & 2023

Poverty Incidence Among Population and Magnitude

In 2023, the province of Benguet recorded a poverty incidence of 6.4% among its population, meaning nearly 7 in every 100 individuals were considered poor. This was lower than the 8.8% in 2018 and 8.5% in 2021. In addition, higher poverty incidence was observed at the regional level with 7.0% in 2023.

Moreover, a total of 32,490 individuals in Benguet province were classified as poor in 2023. This was lower than the estimate in 2021 when the number was 41,990. A downward trend was also seen 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, CAR & Benguet Province: 2018, 2021 & 2023

Food Threshold

In 2023, Benguet province’s food threshold was set at PhP21,836, representing a 14.9% increase from PhP19,998 in 2021. This means that a family of five required PhP9,098 per month to meet their basic food needs.

In comparison, food threshold estimated for the regional level was higher. The regional figure increased to PhP22,257 from PhP19,795 in 2021, or 12.4% increase (Table 4).

Table 4. Annual Food Threshold, CAR & Benguet Province: 
2018, 2021 & 2023

Subsistence Incidence Among Families and Magnitude

In 2023, the subsistence incidence among families in the province of Benguet was estimated at 0.6% from 1.2% in 2021. This means that there was about 1 in every 100 families living below the food threshold. Also, there were about 750 food-poor families in 2023, which declined by 50.7% from 1,520 food-poor families in 2021.

Also, the regional figure displayed a declining pattern. In 2018, 2.2%, or 9,370 families living in CAR, were classified as food poor. This number went down to 6,120 in 2021 and further declined to 3,330 in 2023 at the rate of 45.9% (Table 5).

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

Subsistence Incidence Among Population and Magnitude

Among its population, the province of Benguet posted 1.0% of subsistence incidence in 2023 from 1.8% in 2021. This was equivalent to 5,120 and 8,650 food-poor individuals, respectively. Benguet province displayed a declining trend since 2018. This translates to a decreasing number of individuals living below the food threshold.

CAR posted a consistent decreasing trend also, from 3.3% in 2018 to 2.2% in 2021, and further declined to 1.3% in 2023. This was equivalent to 23,790 individuals in CAR classified as food-poor in 2023 (Table 6).

Table 6. Subsistence Incidence and Magnitude of Poor Population, CAR & Benguet Province: 2018, 2021 & 2023

Poverty and Food Thresholds Across Provinces and HUC in CAR

Among the six provinces and one highly urbanized city in CAR, Benguet province ranked third with the highest annual per capita poverty threshold in 2023. The province of Mountain Province was highest with PhP36,120 from PhP31,063 in 2021, while the City of Baguio followed with PhP31,654 from PhP28,108 in 2021. This implies that families or individuals living in the province of Benguet need a lower amount to afford their basic food and non-food needs compared to those living in the province of Mountain Province and Baguio City.

In terms of the annual per capita food threshold, Benguet province ranked fourth with the highest amount required to meet basic food needs. The province of Mountain Province ranked first with PhP25,360. This was significantly higher than the regional food threshold level. Meanwhile, the province of Abra came second with PhP22,075 from PhP20,475 in 2021 (Table 7).

Table 7. Annual Per Capita Poverty and Food Threshold, CAR, by Province and City: 2018, 2021 & 2023

Magnitude of Poor Families and Population Across Provinces and HUC in CAR

In 2023, Benguet province had the highest share of poor families in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), accounting for 27.5 percent, or 5,610 poor families. Abra followed closely with 27.4 percent, or 5,600 families, while Baguio City had the smallest share, contributing only 2.6 percent, or 530 families.

In terms of the population classified as poor, Benguet province accounted for the second-largest share with 25.2% or 32,490 individuals. Abra had the highest contribution with 26.6% or 34,300 individuals. In contrast, Baguio City had the smallest share with 2.3% or 2,980 individuals (Table 8).

Table 8. Magnitude of Poor Families and Population, CAR, by Province and City: 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.