NSCB aims to produce estimates of poverty in congressional districts

The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) aims to come up with poverty statistics at the congressional district level to assist members of the House of Representatives in their policies and programs, said an official of the agency.

“We believe that it will be a very important input for evidence-based policy and decision-making, especially in the implementation of poverty reduction programs and policies at the congressional district level,” said Jessamyn Encarnacion, director of NSCB’s Social Statistics Office.

However, the agency would need more manpower to undertake the additional computations needed for the congressional district level poverty estimates, she said in a text message.

Encarnacion said that by August 15, the agency would have only two technical staff members—including the division chief in charge—working on poverty statistics.

The NSCB recently released the 2009 city and municipal level poverty estimates that showed that in almost half, or 795, of the 1,643 cities and municipalities, the poverty incidence ranged from 32.1 percent to 60 percent.

It added that 67 municipalities have a poverty incidence of over 60 percent.

Siayan in Zamboanga del Norte was identified as the poorest municipality in the Philippines with poverty incidence at 79.9 percent followed by Bucloc in Abra (77.2 percent) and Baliguian in Zamboanga del Norte (75.3 percent).

Also among the poorest are Jose Abad Santos in Davao del Sur, and Sarangani in Davao del Sur with a poverty incidence of 72.3 and 72.1 percent, respectively.

Of the 20 poorest municipalities in 2009, 17 municipalities were from Mindanao and three from Luzon, NSCB said.

Meanwhile, Binondo in Manila had the lowest poverty incidence in 2009 at 1.03.