RDC: Poverty rate drops in WV

THE Regional Development Council (RDC) in Western Visayas has reported a lower poverty incidence in the region.

RDC Region 6 Chairperson and Antique Governor Rhodora Cadiao, who delivered the State of the Region Address (Sora) in Iloilo City recently, said poverty incidence decreased from 25 percent to 15.9 percent among families.

Cadiao said in terms of poverty incidence among the population, the percentage also reduced from 31.4 percent to 21.2 percent during the first semester of last year.

“This is brought about by the convergence of programs and projects of frontline agencies focusing on the target families under the Listahanan program as well as those in far-flung communities,” she added.

RDC also reported that employment rate in Western Visayas last year was 94.7 percent while unemployment rate declined by 1.85 percent.

Though, underemployment rate increased by 11.38 percent. The Labor Force Participation Rate, on the other hand, slightly decreased by 0.65 percent, it added.

The National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) - Western Visayas earlier reported that the region remains to be the fifth largest regional economy in the Philippines.

It grew by 6.1 percent for calendar year 2017 to 2018, the agency added.

Cadiao, moreover, said improvements in social services in the region were observed as health indicators showed crude birth rate decreasing by 7.84 percent.

Cadiao said births attended by skilled health personnel increased by 0.41 percent.

The number of households with access to safe water went up by 2.46 percent while households with sanitary toilet facilities also increased by 1.37 percent, she reported.*