Human deprivation continues to persist in the region. Economic progress failed to benefit around 32 percent of the total families that were below poverty threshold in 1994. This means that around 346,751 families were unable to meet their minimum basic needs. Poverty was higher in the rural areas than in the urban areas. The income levels are still inadequate for the majority of the population and income distribution remains highly inequitable.
Official statistics show that the gap between the rich and the poor has widened.
However, the region shows much improvement in poverty reduction and income level compared to other regions. Health and Nutrition . The health picture in Central Visayas continued to improve as mortality rates for infants, children and mothers declined from 1993 to 1997. The nutritional status of preschoolers and schoolchildren likewise showed significant improvement. A greater proportion of the region s residents are already literate as the literacy rate increased from 90 percent in 1990 to 95 percent in 1994.