What is the poorest city in the Philippines?

While specific data pinpointing the single poorest city in the Philippines is not provided in the reference, recent reports from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) indicate that Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) currently has the highest poverty incidence among families in the country.

Understanding Poverty Across Philippine Regions

Poverty statistics are typically compiled and reported at the regional or provincial level, offering a broad perspective on socio-economic conditions. According to the PSA's 2023 report on poverty incidence among families:

• Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula) recorded the highest poverty incidence at 24.2 percent. This means that nearly a quarter of families in this region fall below the poverty threshold.
• In comparison, the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), which previously held the distinction of being the poorest region, showed significant economic progress. BARMM's poverty incidence in 2023 was recorded at 23.5 percent, indicating a positive turnaround for the area.

This shift highlights the dynamic nature of poverty levels across the archipelago. While the focus of the question is on a specific city, the available data points to the region with the most significant challenge in terms of family poverty.

Why City-Specific Data Can Be Elusive

Identifying the absolute poorest city requires highly granular and localized data, which is often not included in general regional poverty reports. Factors contributing to poverty in urban centers can be complex and include:

• Limited economic opportunities that fail to match the growing population.
• High cost of living, particularly in urbanized areas, disproportionately affecting low-income households.
• Inadequate access to basic services such as clean water, sanitation, and healthcare.
• Vulnerability to various shocks, including natural disasters, economic downturns, or health crises.

Therefore, while Region IX has the highest regional poverty, pinpointing the single poorest city within it, or across the entire country, necessitates more detailed, localized surveys beyond general regional poverty incidence reports.

Poverty Incidence Among Families by Region (2023)

This data emphasizes that concerted efforts are needed in regions like Zamboanga Peninsula to address the multifaceted challenges contributing to poverty.