Philippine Standard time

Hierarchical Clustering of Mindanao Municipalities and Cities Based on the Incidence, Gap, and Severity of Poverty


The study develops a hierarchical clustering of Mindanao municipalities and cities based on the incidence, gap, and severity of poverty using the 2003 poverty estimates of the National Statistical Coordination Board and World Bank. It aims to identify the cluster of municipalities with critical levels of poverty in order to purposively target such municipalities for intervention. It uses Squared Euclidean distance as the distance metric and Complete Linkage, or the “furthest neighbor” technique, as the cluster method in estimating the distance between clusters. It also uses the divisive approach to hierarchical clustering. Results indicate that Siayan is the lone municipality in the most critical cluster. Bacungan, Godod, Jose Abad, Lapuyan, Midsalip, Poona Piagapo, San Luis, Sominot, and Tangcal are the municipalities that belong in a cluster that is considered the second most critical. Majority of the critical municipalities are found in Zamboanga del Norte, Lanao del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, and Agusan del Sur. Further, ARMM municipalities are not at critical levels despite the high incidence of poverty due to relatively low levels of poverty gap and severity. Most of the cities belong to a single cluster and such cluster is at the top of the hierarchy.                                                  

Citations

This publication has been cited time(s).