More WV Families Meet 

Minimum Basic Needs

At least eight (8) out of 10 families in Western Visayas meet the minimum basic needs for survival based on the results of the 2013 Annual Poverty Indicator Survey (APIS). These needs are measured by access to safe drinking water, presence of electricity at home, and use of sanitary toilet.

According to the result, 80 percent of families in the region have access to safe drinking water, 83 percent have sanitary toilets and 89 percent have electricity in their homes.

In terms of the minimum basic requirements for security, 43 percent and 67 percent of families live in houses with outer walls and roofs, respectively, are made of strong materials. Five (5) out of 10 own the house and lot they occupy and 91 percent have at least one gainfully employed member, 18 years old and above.

On enabling needs, at least 99 percent of families with children 6-11 years of age have their children enrolled in elementary grades, while seven (7) out of 10 families with children 12-15 years old sent their children in high school. The percentage of children in school increased both in elementary and secondary compared to the 2011 and 2010 figure. 

In addition, the proportion of families with working children 5-17 years old dropped to 13.0 percent in 2013 compared to 2011 figure of 13.6 percent. 

According to Provincial Statistics Officer Blas M. Solidum, the 2013 APIS is the 9th in a series of nationwide poverty indicators surveys undertaken by the Philippine Statistics Authority (formerly NSO).

The survey is designed to provide access and impact indicators that can be used as inputs to the development of an integrated poverty indicator and monitoring system for the assessment of the government programs on poverty alleviation. 

The 2013 APIS was conducted in July 2013 with a sample size of around 13,000 households, of which 11,334 households were eligible for the survey. 

Of the total number of eligible sample households, 10,864 were successfully interviewed. This is translated to a 95.9 percent response rate at the national level. /MP