The economic performance of Region 12 in 2009 posted a lower growth despite improved production in the industry and service sectors, according to the National Statistics Coordination Board Regional Division 12 (NSCB-12).
“The slump in the agriculture, fishery, and forestry sector (AFF) weakened the Soccsksargen (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani, General Santos) Region’s economic performance in 2009 as it posted a slower growth of 1.3 percent from 4.5 percent in 2008,” NSCB-12 head Herlita Caraan said as she presented a report in a press conference last week at EMR Center, Koronadal City.
The report noted that the AFF sector, which accounts for 41.5 percent of the region’s economy, shrank to a negative 2.0 percent in 2009 from 6.6 percent in 2008.
Caraan explained that major crops of the region such as palay, pineapple, sugarcane, and rubber posted lower growths in the year under review.
“Production of palay was adversely affected by flashfloods, and pest infestation. Sugarcane production, which posted remarkable increase in 2008 was also affected by water lagging after heavy rain while pineapple production dropped after planters shifted to banana and corn, which did not work well due to poor maintenance” she said.
Fishery sector also suffered reduction in production resulting from the ban in tuna fishing ban in international fishing grounds imposed by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Conference (WCPFC).
Caraan, however, noted increases in the industry and service sectors, but its improved performance “was not able to offset the lackluster performance of the AFF sector.”
The industry sector, which accounts for 31.8 percent of the region’s economic output slightly improved to 3.8 percent from 3.5 percent in 2008.
Construction posted 19.3 percent growth from 5.6 percent in 2008 while electricity and water sector rebounded from -1.5 percent in 2008 to 3.6 percent in 2009 but the manufacturing sector slid to 1.2 percent from 3.4 percent in 2008.
The service sector, which accounts for 26.7 percent of the region’s economy expanded from 2.4 percent in 2008 to 3.8 percent in 2009.
Outputs of private services such as hotels and restaurants grew from 4.1 percent in 2008 to 5.6 percent in 2009. Finance sector also improved from 3.5 percent to 5.0 percent. [With reports from DE Doguiles/PIA 12]
