ILOILO City – Western Visayas’ economy expanded by 4.3 percent in 2024, reaching P641.76 billion, but the region’s agriculture sector remains a major concern, showing stagnant growth and highlighting a troubling divide in the region’s economic development.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Region 6 reported that while the services and industry sectors showed positive growth, the Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing (AFF) sector lagged behind, with little to no growth recorded.
AFF’s performance, continuing to suffer from the effects of extreme weather patterns and declining livestock output, was the weakest among the region’s major industries.
“This is a concerning performance. The decline in agriculture is mainly due to the El Niño phenomenon, which severely disrupted crop production,” said Nelida Amolar, PSA Region 6 OIC-regional director.
“Although there were some bright spots, like watermelon production, the overall output for crops and livestock suffered, causing a significant drag on the sector,” said Amolar.
In 2024, the AFF sector contributed just 14.5 percent to Western Visayas’ Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), amounting to P93.16 billion. Crop production, which accounted for 50.3 percent of this total, was hit hardest. Other sub-sectors like livestock and fishing also posted weak results, and for the second consecutive year, forestry registered zero growth.
Despite agriculture’s deep roots in the region’s economy, Amolar pointed out that it continues to be vulnerable to climate variability and is hindered by outdated production methods and insufficient technological and infrastructural support.
“Even with efforts to support agri-fishery, the sector remains heavily dependent on favorable weather and basic production methods. We must rethink our strategies to lift this sector,” she emphasized.
While the AFF sector struggles, services continued to be the dominant driver of Western Visayas’ economy, contributing 66.5 percent of the total GRDP. The sector saw growth of 7.4 percent, though this was a slowdown from 10.8 percent in 2023. Wholesale and retail trade, particularly in motor vehicles and motorcycles, was the largest contributor to the services sector, followed by transportation and financial services.
The industry sector, encompassing manufacturing, construction, and mining, showed a more modest increase of 3.9 percent, a drop from the previous year’s 6.7 percent. Manufacturing remained the largest contributor within this sector, contributing 42.8 percent of its gross value added.
Despite these sectoral disparities, officials remain optimistic about the region’s economic prospects. National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Region 6 director Arecio Casing Jr. noted that while GRDP is a crucial metric, it does not provide a complete picture.
“We also need to look at poverty rates, inflation, and employment to truly assess if people’s lives are improving,” he said.
Casing underscored the importance of infrastructure projects, including the Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridge and proposed expressways, in enhancing regional connectivity and bolstering both industry and agriculture.
“These connectivity efforts will strengthen both the industry and services sectors, and hopefully breathe new life into agriculture by making it more accessible and competitive,” he added.
While the 4.3 percent growth in Western Visayas falls below the national average of 5.7 percent, the region remains the eighth largest economy in the country, with a per capita GRDP increase of 3.6 percent to P132,404. Household spending per capita also rose by 2.6 percent, albeit at a slower pace than last year.
Looking ahead, PSA and NEDA officials are hopeful that with targeted support for the AFF sector and infrastructure investments, the region can foster more inclusive and resilient growth. “Improving these numbers will take time, but the goal is clear,” Amolar concluded. “We want growth that uplifts all sectors, especially agriculture, which remains the backbone of many rural communities in Western Visayas.”/PN
