ZAMBOANGA CITY — The poverty incidence among families in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao has tremendously decreased from 52.6 percent in 2018 to 29.8 percent in 2021.

According to BARMM-Philippine Statistics Authority director Engr. Akan Tula, the reason for the continued decrease in poverty incidence in the Bangsamoro region was because Lanao del Sur province is no longer included in the poorest provinces category.

"It is now one of the least poor provinces in BARMM despite the 2017 Marawi siege," said Tula, adding that the BARMM government continues to implement various projects, programs and services to far-flung communities.

Tula said that based on the 2021 Family Income and Expenditure Survey, BARMM's poverty incidence was recorded at 29.8 percent or about 0.23 million considered as poor families living in the region.

BARMM has a total population of 4,944,800 and about 1.71 million or 37.4 percent of the families in BARMM are living below the poverty threshold.

According to the PSA, the poverty threshold also known as the poverty line is now P11,957 the minimum income required for a family or individual to meet the basic food and non-foods.

BARMM is comprised of six provinces — Basilan (except Isabela City), Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. It also has three cities: Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi hosting 116 municipalities and 2,590 barangays (including 63 in the special geographic area of Cotabato).