Methodological Issues
9.6. Urban areas can be delimited from different standpoints. The above findings must be interpreted only in the context of the urban definition used. It is possible that the level and tempo of urbanization are over-estimated because of the urban definition used.
9.7. The criterion of a municipal density of 1,000 persons per sq. km. tends to exaggerate the level and tempo of urbanization. In 1990, there were 101 cities and municipalities classified as entirely urban based on this criterion. Their combined population constituted more than one-fourth (29 percent) of the total urban population in 1990. Fifty of these cities and municipalities were less than 100-percent urban in 1980. Thirty of these cities/municipalities had less than one-third of their population living in urban areas in 1980.
9.8. Adams, a small municipality in the north, which was classified as entirely rural in 1980 became entirely urban in 1990. Four municipalities were "de-urbanized" to less than 100-percent urban because of the drop in density to less than 1,000 per sq. km. due to the increase in land area, decrease in population size, or the occurrence of both.
10.0. Social Stratification
10.1. The gender-related development index (GDI) attempts to capture achievement in the basic capabilities included in the Human Development Index (HDI), namely, life expectancy, educational attainment and income, but adjusts it for gender inequality.
10.2. Based on the gender-related development index (GDI), which was calculated by UNDP in 1994, the Philippines belongs to the general group where its women are not treated as well as its men. While the Philippines has an HDI rank of 83 out of 146 countries, its GDI rank is 81. Among the five Southeast Asian countries, the Philippines ranked fourth in terms of GDI. It overtook Indonesia which ranked number 86. Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia ranked numbers 27, 39 and 45, respectively. Only Singapore and Indonesia exhibited a higher HDI rank than GDI. The largest discrepancy was registered in Thailand where the GDI is 12 notches lower than its HDI.
