ILOILO Province has every reason to celebrate its economic comeback. From a sluggish 1.6 percent growth in 2024, its economy expanded by 5.9 percent in 2025, reaching P232.13 billion and outperforming the national growth rate of 4.4 percent. The province also retained its position as Western Visayas’ largest economy, accounting for 34 percent of regional output.
Impressive numbers, indeed. But are ordinary Ilonggos actually feeling the benefits of this economic growth?
Economic prosperity cannot be measured by gross domestic product alone. It must also be reflected in farmers’ incomes, workers’ wages, employment opportunities and the ability of families to put food on their tables.
Particularly encouraging is agriculture’s remarkable 11.4 percent rebound, contributing 2.2 percentage points to the province’s overall growth. This underscores the sector’s indispensable role in Iloilo’s economy.
But government must not mistake increased agricultural production for improved farmers’ welfare. A bumper harvest means little when farmers remain burdened by high production costs, low buying prices and mounting debts. Agricultural growth becomes meaningful only when those who produce our food earn enough to live decently.
Equally troubling are the contractions in mining and quarrying, which declined by 10.2 percent, and construction, which shrank by 4.5 percent. These setbacks expose weaknesses that economic planners cannot afford to ignore.
Meanwhile, the services sector, accounting for nearly 60 percent of the provincial economy, must generate decent employment and better wages, not merely higher commercial revenues.
An economy that grows richer while its farmers, workers and struggling families remain poor is hardly a success story.
The provincial government must therefore look beyond impressive Gross Domestic Product figures and confront more fundamental questions: Are poverty levels declining? Are farmers earning more? Are decent jobs being created? Are ordinary households enjoying greater economic security? These are the true measures of meaningful development.
Iloilo’s economic resurgence is an achievement worth celebrating. But sustaining growth is only half the challenge. Ensuring that its benefits reach the grassroots is the other, more important half.
For the ultimate measure of progress is not how many billions Iloilo’s economy produces, but how many Ilonggos are lifted out of poverty because of it.
