By Marisol Bo-oc and Helen Castaño | 12:33 PM August 30, 2024
Bohol Gov. Aris Aumentado said that
poverty reduction has always been a top priority.
He said it started with the term of his late father, Governor Erico Boyles Aumentado when the province was removed from the list of top 10 poorest province in the country.
He said the focus has been sustained through multiple governors.
The previous lowest level of poverty incidence among families was in 2018 at 15 percent. However, poverty rose after the pandemic to 19.1 percent.
The latest data from Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data showed that poverty incidence down to its lowest-ever level, at 14.8 percent.
“To reduce poverty even further, I have given marching orders for the whole Provincial Government workforce to focus on the first 24 towns with the highest poverty incidence, and to prioritize them for programs and projects,” he said during his second State of the Province Address (Sopa) on Friday, Aug. 28, 2024.
