14 of RP's poorest towns in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY — At least 14 of the country’s 20 poorest municipalities are in Mindanao, according to the National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB).

Data released by the NSCB XI here over the weekend showed that the town of Siayan in Zamboanga del Norte is the poorest in the country, with a poverty incidence of 97.46 percent.

The municipalities of Sominot, Tangcal, Midsalip, Bacungan, Jose Abad Santos, Godod, Lapuyan, San Luis and Poona Piagapo, all in Mindanao, also emerged as among the poorest.

The next poorest town is Tanudan in Kalinga in the Cordillera Autonomous Region (CAR), with a rate of 88.06 percent in poverty incidence.

The NSCB refers to poverty incidence as the proportion of population (or families) with per capita income less than the per capita poverty threshold to the total number of population (families) of an area.

It said six other poorest towns are in Northern Luzon and Western Samar in the Visayas, with three each.

In the country’s list of 20 poorest municipalities, aside from Siayan, are Sominot, Zamboanga del Sur, with poverty incidence of 87.54 percent; Tangcal, Lanao del Norte, 86.72 percent; Midsalip, Zamboanga del Sur, 86.32 percent; Bagulin, La Union, 85.50 percent; Bacungan, Zamboanga del Norte, 85.17 percent; Jose Abad Santos, Davao del Sur, 84.63 percent;

Godod, Zamboanga del Norte, 84.58 percent; Lapuyan, Zamboanga del Sur, 84.35 percent; San Luis, Agusan del Sur, 83.06 percent; Tinglayan, Kalinga, San Jose de Buan, Western Samar, 82.14 percent and 81.91 percent; Poona Piagapo, Lanao del Norte, 81.68 percent; Matuguinao, Western Samar, 81.35 percent; Don Marcelino, Davao del Sur, 80.75 percent; Zumarraga, Western Samar, 80.11 percent; La Paz, Agusan del Sur, 79.69 percent; Sarangani, Davao del Sur, 78.67 percent; and Talaingod, Davao del Norte with 78.56 percent poverty incidence.

The NSCB data also indicated that in Southern Mindanao, five of the poorest towns are in Davao del Sur. These are Jose Abad Santos, Don Marcelino, Sarangani. Malita and Sta. Maria rank sixth and seventh, respectively, on the list.

The towns of Talaingod in Davao del Norte and Laak in Compostela Valley, both placed fifth.

The towns of Manay, Tarragona and Caraga in Davao Oriental ranked eighth, ninth, and 10th, respectively, among the 10 poorest in Southern Mindanao.

But with all the poorest towns, Kidapawan City in North Cotabato emerged as Mindanao’s richest municipality, with only 12.46 percent poverty incidence.

Other areas that made it to the list of “Mindanao’s 10 richest municipalities” are General Santos City, with 13.98 percent poverty incidence; Polomolok, South Cotabato, 14.29; Davao City, 14.94 percent; Tagum City, 15.42 percent; Cagayan de Oro City, 15.50 percent; Koronadal City, 16.18 percent; Digos City, Davao del Sur, 18.22 percent; and the towns of Padada and Hagonoy, also in Davao del Sur, with 21.99 percent and 22.60 percent poverty incidence, respectively.