San Jose has emerged as the town with the highest density of poor households in the Mimaropa region, according to recent data released by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Based on the Listahanan 3 data, San Jose claimed the top spot with an alarming 10,919 poor households, while two other Mindoro towns also featured on the list. Sablayan secured the fourth position with 6,256 households classified as poor and Mansalay also joined the list.

The other municipalities in the Mimaropa region with significant numbers of impoverished households are Bataraza, Balabac, Taytay, Rizal, Brooke’s Point, Quezon, and the City of Puerto Princesa in Palawan.

In Occidental Mindoro, out of the 102,885 households assessed, a total of 39,899 households were identified as poor, said Editha B. Ocampo, OIC Division Chief of Policy and Plans of the DSWD Mimaropa. This represents a significant 21.44% share of poor households in the region.

The DSWD also highlighted the alarming concentration of poverty within Indigenous Peoples communities, indicating that these areas experience the highest magnitude of poor households.

Ocampo emphasized that Listahanan is more than just a project or program as it is an information system that aids national government agencies and other stakeholders in effectively identifying and prioritizing those in need of social services.

To address the challenges faced by the impoverished population, she said the DSWD provides a range of interventions, including the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program, Sustainable Livelihood Program, educational assistance, and various other social services tailored to the needs of the poor in the region.

Ocampo said release of the Listahanan 3 data serves as a call to action for government agencies and stakeholders to intensify efforts in addressing poverty and implementing targeted interventions to uplift the living conditions of the most vulnerable households in Occidental Mindoro.