Kalinga out of 20 poorest provinces

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - Kalinga province has graduated from the 20 poorest provinces  or the so-called “Club-20” in the country.

The 2012 National Statistical Coordination Board’s (NSCB) “Poverty Threshold Survey” showed Kalinga has leaped to number 43 among the developing provinces in the country that have addressed poverty.

The survey results revealed that only 29.4 percent of families in Kalinga remain within the poverty line,  with a monthly per capita income of P9,734.00, based on NSCB criteria.

Gov. Jocel Baac said economic reforms undertaken by the provicnial government and line agencies helped Kalinga in its fight against poverty.

Baac’s brainchild program-- “Pumiyaan” (betterment) --  has helped address socio-economic concerns in pilot towns in Kalinga where convergence of services by provincial and line agencies is being implemented.

Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (PSWDO) Digna Dalutag said the number of families who fall under the poverty threshold can be further reduced with the expansion of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in the province.