Survival Strategies of Low-and Middle-Income Households in the Province of Ilocos Sur

Abstract

This study attempts to discover the survival strategies of low-and middle-income households in the Province of llocos Sur, and to determine the profile of the household heads and other economic activities undertaken by the members of the households. The study was limited to a total of 62l sample households which were drawn from the 20 out of 34 municipalities of Ilocos Sur. The respondents were drawn from the poblacion, rural farm and fishing village. Most of the household heads are male, married, mostly from the rural farm and most of them are high school graduates and below. Most ofthe middle-income respondents are engaged in sales and service, while most of the low-income respondents are engaged in agricultural work. Most of them have other sources of income, and some of them are permanent in status in their employment. Majority of the respondents are availed credit/ loan from cooperatives, banks, relatives and friends to augment their family needs and expenses. Most of them wanted some reforms and assistance from the government to alleviate their standard of living. The age, sex, place of residence, marital status, educational attainment, income and parents' occupation were significantly related to the kind ofjob they are engaged in exceptfor the employment status which was found out to be insignificant.