World · Philippines Bureau
Bohol cuts poverty rate to record low of 11 percent
The province has slashed its poverty incidence by nearly 40 percentage points over the past quarter-century, according to official statistics presented during the governor's annual address.
LSN Philippines ·
TAGBILARAN CITY — Bohol has achieved its lowest poverty rate on record, with the incidence of poverty among families dropping to 11 percent in 2025 from 50.2 percent in 2000, Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado announced Wednesday.
The 39.2-percentage-point decline represents a significant milestone for the central Visayas province, reflecting two decades of sustained development efforts and economic growth. Aumentado presented the figures during his State of the Province Address, citing data from the Philippine Statistics Authority as the basis for the improvement.
The reduction underscores progress across multiple development indicators, though the province continues working to address remaining pockets of poverty. Officials did not elaborate on specific programs or initiatives credited with the improvement, but the figures suggest consistent gains in household income levels and access to basic services across Bohol's communities.
The achievement places Bohol among the better-performing provinces in terms of poverty reduction, positioning it ahead of several regional counterparts in the ongoing fight against rural and urban poverty.