๐๐ฎ ๐จ๐ป๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ โ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐๐ ๐ฃ๐ผ๐ผ๐ฟโ ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐๐๐ ๐ฆ๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ญ๐ด; ๐ ๐ผ๐๐ ๐๐ณ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ฏ๐น๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐ผ ๐น๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ด๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ญ
By: Camille R. Bumatay, PIO | Photos By: Jefferson Lorenzo, PIO | Date: April 13, 2022
With the welfare of the people as the primary transformative governance focus of the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) under the leadership of Gov. Francisco Emmanuel โPacoyโ R. Ortega III, the Province of La Union remains proactive in alleviating poverty incidence through data driven decision making.
Following the nationwide increase in poverty incidence, Assistant National Statistician (ANS) Wilma A Guillen of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) presented the factors affecting the increase on the poverty incidence in La Union for the First Semester of 2021. This is in response to the request of Gov. Pacoy for additional data on poverty statistics in the province with the intention to better plan and implement proactive actions to alleviate poverty. The meeting was conducted at the Provincial Capitol, City of San Fernando, La Union on April 13, 2022.
In her presentation, ANS Guillen explained how the agency comes up with the result through use of the official poverty estimation methodology generated through data on provincial food bundles, price, and income. For the Official Poverty Statistics of La Union in the Cluster of Provinces in Region 1, La Union remains under Cluster 5 or among the โleast poorโ from 2018 to 2021 along with Ilocos Norte while Ilocos Sur and Pangasinan went from Cluster 5 to 4 in 2021. Cluster 1 comprises the โpoorestโ provinces while provinces belonging to cluster 5 are regarded as โleast poorโ.
Based on statistical data, ANS Guillen explained that the increase in the poverty incidence in the province are caused by high cost of fish and food, Increased Consumer Price Index, Increased Poverty Incidence and Food Poor Incidence, Lower wages, and the fact that 2021 is a CoViD-19 pandemic year.
However, she also emphasized that the province was able to maintain its cluster 5 position in 2018 through 2021 while it maintains to be the most affordable province to live in Region 1.
Provincial Planning Development Coordinator EnP Michaela Louise T. Delfinado expressed PGLUโs utmost gratitude to PSA for the strong partnership. She also highlighted that Gov. Pacoy is highly committed to improve data collection in the province and is very passionate in extending support to the LGUs to improve the poverty incidence in La Union.
The Provincial Government will work towards addressing the factors affecting poverty through: Strengthening of Local Price Coordinating Councils; Continuing Backyard and Community Gardening Program; Expanding livelihood assistance to COVID-19 affected workers; and Continuing its coordination with the LTFRB for the resumption of Public Transportation, among others.
Also in attendance in the meeting were Regional Director Atty. Sheila O. De Guzman PSA Regional Statistical Services Office I; Chief Statistical Specialist Mr. Juanito Y. Yabes of PSA RSSO I; Chief Statistical Specialist Dr. Danites E. Teรฑido of PSA La Union; Supervising Statistical Specialist Mr. Malvin A. Quinto of PSA La Union; Resilient Communities Sector Head and Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Mr. Ranilo P. Ipac; Economic Dynamism Sector Head and Provincial Tourism Officer Mr. Arthur S. Cortez, Jr.; and OIC-Provincial Information Office Camille R. Bumatay.
Through effective analysis of data, the PGLU continues its commitment to attain its mission to serve as catalyst of sustainable and inclusive development that improves the quality of life of the people.
