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DAVAO
CITY, Nov. 26 (PNA) -- Kidapawan City in North Cotabato is the richest
among the cities and municipalities in Mindanao based on the 2003
poverty incidence data of the National Statistical Coordination Board
(NSCB) Davao, besting General Santos City, Davao City and even Cagayan
de Oro City, according to NSCB regional head Estrella R. Turingan.
“We
were also surprised with the result of the survey but this can be
blamed on the inflation rate in Davao and in other cities and
municipalities which were rated behind Kidapawan City,” Turingan said.
NSCB
poverty incidence refers to the proportion of population or number of
families with per capita income below the poverty threshold.
Turingan
said this is the first time that they were able to get statistics up to
the municipality level due to budget constraints. NSCB generates
statistics on the provincial level every three years and the 2003 data
is their newest available data.
“We
were only able to afford conducting the survey up to the municipality
level because the project was financed by the World Bank,” she said.
Kidapawan
City is a first class city and is the capital of North Cotabato. It is
known primarily as a tourist destination for those who want to climb
Mt. Apo, the country’s highest peak.
With
a poverty incidence of only 12.46%, Kidapawan City bested General
Santos City (13.98%), Polomolok (14.29%), Davao City (14.94), Tagum
City (15.42%), Cagayan de Oro City (15.50%), Koronadal City (16.18%),
Digos City (18.22%), Padada (21.99%) and Hagonoy (22.60%).
Kidapawan
City is the only area in North Cotabato that has made it to the top 10
richest cities and municipalities based on poverty incidence. The
provinces of South Cotabato and Davao del Sur each had three areas in
the Top 10 list.
“Poverty
threshold is driven by the price of the basic necessities for the
current year. It appears that the average income of Davao City’s
residents are not enough to catch up with the price increases in the
city,” Turingan said. (PNA) |
