Mining, stone quarrying boost W. Visayas economic growth
The 5.9 percent growth in the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of Western Visayas in 2009 can be attributed mainly to the increased coal mining and stone quarrying.
Based on the 2009 Economic Performance of Western Visayas generated by the National Statistical Coordination (NSCB), the industry sector which is composed of mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction, electricity and water contributed 55.9 percent to the GRDP.
However, among 13 sectors including those from the services and the agriculture and fishery, and forestry (AFF), the mining and quarrying has posted a highest growth of 1.6 percent.
Nelida B. Losare, NSCB Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) specialist, said that the accelerated growth was due mainly to the increased production of coal by the Semirara Corporation in Antique with its attempt to meet its obligations with the international market.
Coal was the number one export of Western Visayas in 2009 with around 90 percent of its total production. Some 15 percent was left to meet the demand at the local market.
The stone quarrying was also another factor because of the high demand in constructions as shown also by the consistent growth of the latter at 13.8 percent.
FISHERY SECTOR
Meanwhile, a significant growth in the fishery sector in Western Visayas was also noted in 2009 surpassing even the palay production rate.
Palay, which is of the region’s major crops, posted a 23.3 percent growth.
NSCB GRDP specialist Nelida Losare attributed the significant hike in the fishery sector to the increase in aquaculture production as well as the increase in production of municipal fisheries.
The agriculture, fishery and forestry (AFF) sector contributed some 23.9 percent to the region’s economy despite its sluggish growth of only 2.6 percent as against the 3.9 percent in 2008.
Losare said the decrease was mainly due to the decrease in sugarcane production recorded at negative 9.5 and the negative 22.1 percent slide in corn production.
There was a decrease in area planted with sugarcane, less fertilizer application, damages due to calamities while other farmers decided not to plant anymore.
The mango production has also suffered due to bad weather condition.
Meanwhile, Economic Development specialist Estela Paredes explained the stunted growth of the AFF could have been affected by the climate change.
“Climate change is a big factor in terms of our growth rate, Western Visayas being an agricultural region and the entire country as well,” Paredes said. PNA
