Fewer poor families in Cebu in 2023 – PSA

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Province and its highly-urbanized cities (HUCs) posted a decrease in its poverty incidence among families which stood at 11.7% in 2023, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-7 reported.

PSA-Cebu chief statistical specialist Melchor Bautista shared that about 117 out of every 1,000 families are in the status where incomes are below the amount needed to meet basic food and non-food needs.

The statistics in 2023 saw a decrease compared to previous years wherein 11.1 percentage points from the 2021 figure of 22.8%.

However, the statistic showed a slight increase of 0.4 percentage points from the 2018 rate of 11.3%.

Bautista also revealed that the poverty incidence rate in Cebu is higher than the national average, which was 10.9% in 2023.

In addition, the number of poor families across Cebu, including its HUCs, was estimated at 157,000 families in 2023.

The number saw a decline compared to 292,000 families reported in 2021, but is higher than the 133,000 families recorded in 2018.

Moreover, Cebu Province, excluding the HUCs, continues to report the highest poverty incidence at 15.5%, equating to approximately 131,500 families.

Breaking it down by city, Lapu-Lapu City reported a poverty incidence of 5.6%, representing approximately 7,370 families. Cebu City followed with 5.3%, equating to around 12,820 families and Mandaue City emerged with a reported 4.7%, or about 5,780 families.

In terms of population, the poverty rate of Cebu Province, including HUCs, stood at 16.9% in 2023. This translates to 169 out of every 1,000 Filipinos in the area living below the threshold needed to afford both basic food and non-food necessities.

About 897,930 individuals in Cebu, including the HUCs, were shown to be living below the poverty threshold in 2023. This is a decline from the 1.48 million individuals reported in 2021 but a bit higher than the 725,410 individuals in 2018.

Bautista noted that a typical family of five in Cebu Province and the HUCs required ?14,835 per month on average.

“In 2023, a family of five in Cebu Including HUCs needed at least ?14,835 on average to meet the basic foods and non-food needs in a month. Those with income below this threshold are considered to be living in poverty,” said Bautista.

The poverty threshold for Cebu Province was ?14,757, while Cebu City reported ?15,233, Lapu-Lapu City’s was ?15,200, and Mandaue City’s was ?14,856.

PSA regional director Ariel Florendo emphasized the complex nature of poverty stating, “We must also consider other poverty indicators and address potential vulnerabilities. A deeper dive into other areas will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the poverty situation and guide more target intervention.”

Florendo added that the statistics of poverty incidence in the province and HUCs is vital to guiding government responses and become a guide for more targeted interventions.

The PSA carries out a Family Income and Expenditure Survey (FIES) every two years to assess poverty rates and analyze other income-related indicators. — (FREEMAN)