Agusan del Sur Cut from List of Poorest Provinces in the Country
Agusan del Sur is no longer included in the list of the top 16 poorest provinces in the country. Per latest reports, the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) cited that poverty incidence level of Filipinos almost remained unchanged between 2006 and 2012.
Figures of the first semester last year show a national poverty incidence rate of 27.9 percent, slightly lower than 28.8 percent in 2006 and 28.6 in 2009. NSCB comes out with the report every three years.
However, the province’s poverty incidence rate dropped from 51.3 percent in 2009 to 38.6 percent last year, a significant reduction of 12.9 percent which warranted it’s exclusion from the infamous roll.
Agusan del Sur ranked 9 in the list in 2006 and third in the 2009 NSCB survey.
In a published report by a leading national newspaper, the Philippine Daily Inquirer on March 24, the province was no longer in the list.
Data shows the top 16 poorest provinces are Lanao del Sur (68.9 percent), Apayao (59.8 percent), Eastern Samar (59.4 percent), Maguindanao (57.8 percent), Zamboanga del Norte (50.3 percent), Davao Oriental (48 percent), Ifugao (47.5 percent), Sarangani (46.5 percent), Negros Oriental (45.3 percent), Masbate (44.2 percent), North Cotabato (43.9 percent), Northern Samar (43.7 percent), Bukidnon (43.3 percent), Lanao del Norte (42.5 percent), Sultan Kudarat (41.6 percent), and Cotabato City (41.5 percent).
On the same day, the Philippine Star, another national daily quoted NSCB Secretary General Jose Ramon Albert saying that the poverty incidence rate in Region I and Caraga have gone down.
NSCB has yet to come out with the full year report for 2012 on the poverty survey on the third quarter of this year according to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.
In relation to this positive development, National Statistics Office Provincial Director Jake Appellado said the data of NSCB indicate that the province is in the right track for progress. He added the drop in the poverty incidence show that the development plans and programs are in place and working out well.
Governor Adolph Edward “Eddiebong” Plaza has implemented various interventions in the province to address poverty and uplift the economic condition of the marginalized Agusanons especially in the hinterlands where incidence of poverty is relatively high.
Investments on economic, human resource and infrastructure development and programs on poverty reduction like the Upland Sustainable Agro-forestry Development (USAD), Baka Alang sa Kauswagan sa Agusan del Sur (BAKAS), Provincial Swine Upgrading Program (PSUP), Boosted Utilization of Grains in Agusan del Sur (BUGAS), Intensified and Sustainable Development of Aquaculture (ISDA), Program on Reform and Utilization of Trees in Agusan del Sur (PRUTAS), Agusan Goat Program (AGP), Provincial Scholarship Program, Pagtuon Project, among others were instituted under his administration and are slowly reaping positive results.
this is great news! a breathe of fresh air from poverty stricken documentaries and crime-related headlines dominating the news. Congratulations to you and hopefully this inspires other cities and regions especially the politicians who will be elected! this should be the case!
ReplyDeleteThis is some good news that the poverty incidence is going down in some area of the country. I hope the boom economy reach more areas.
ReplyDeleteMay the rest of the provinces on the list continue to go UP and rise from poverty. This is a great and good news.
ReplyDeleteEven as there are still several provinces categorized as the poorest, it is always good news to hear about one that has overcome.
ReplyDeleteAll those mentioned poor provinces are from the South particularly in Mindanao. The President must address the issue at once. Congrats to Agusan del Sur for making a big leap.
ReplyDeleteMost of the poor provinces are probably one of the most agriculturally rich areas in the Philippines. It's sad that these problems are not properly addressed. But it's a good sign that Agusan del Sur has finally removed itself from the list.
ReplyDelete- Wanderer Juan
I think that the more important thing is not getting this list and taking surveys or responses from people who are living in those areas but planning how to go about them -- to improvement! :)
ReplyDeletePoorest region no more! People join hand and hand to identifies interventions through sectoral programs, projects and development. Congrats to all of you!
ReplyDeleteIt is always great to hear about a place improving itself :) I have not been to Agusan del Sur but congrats! :)
ReplyDeleteI doubt the survey results that these places are included in the poorest, considering the people's lifestyle and way of living in those places are more progressive especially in agriculture and infrastructure.
ReplyDeleteYou know what, I've always thought that Agusan is a swampy place because that's what I always see on TV. I'm an ignoramus. Anyway, congrats to Agusan for the development and big leap. :)
ReplyDeletewow congrats to that positive survey and result! I dont really know that we have things like this to show poverty in philippines sad truth xx
ReplyDeleteTitle pa lang, napangiti na ako, congratulations to Agusan del Sur! Way to go! :)
ReplyDeleteIt's good to know that Agusan del Sur is no longer one of the poorest provinces and hopefully a decreased number on the list in the future.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that, it is time for the poorest province in the Philippines to improve and prosper. I guess a good leader and more businesses.
ReplyDeletevery nice to hear that Agusan del Sur is not in the list anymore but I'm saddened by the other town's and provinces that are still in the list
ReplyDeleteit is sad to know that the provinces listed on the poorest provinces are the ones with beautiful environment and high potential for tourism ... i just can't believe that the LGUs are not capitalizing on this and could turn things differently .
ReplyDeleteWhile it's good news to hear that Agusan del Sur is not included in the list of poorest provinces anymore, it's sad to know that there are still a lot of provinces suffering from high poverty incidence. And I share lovemindanao's sentiments...
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