Bukidnon tops provinces in agri-fishery, forestry output

BUKIDNON retained its position as the country’s top contributor to agriculture, forestry and fishing (AFF) output in 2024, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The PSA said Bukidnon remained the largest contributor to the national AFF gross value-added (GVA) with a 7.3% share, topping the 81 other provinces and 33 highly urbanized cities (HUCs).

The province accounted for P129.03 billion in AFF GVA in 2024, against P128.44 billion in 2023, according to the PSA.

The rest of the top 10 were Nueva Ecija (4.6%), Pangasinan (3.9%), Pampanga (3.7%), Isabela (3.3%), Batangas (2.9%), Davao del Norte (2.9%), Negros Occidental (2.8%), Tarlac (2.5%) and Quezon (2.4%).

“Collectively, these provinces accounted for 36.3 % of the national GVA of AFF,” the PSA said.

The GVA of AFF in 2024 declined 1.5% to P1.78 trillion, according to the PSA.

The fastest growth in AFF output was recorded in Eastern Samar (28.5%), Cebu City (15.8%) and Dinagat Island (13.1%). Meanwhile, the steepest declines in output were reported in Iloilo (-15.9%), Occidental Mindoro (-14.1%) and Negros Oriental (-12.8)%.

The top provinces in terms of AFF as a share of GDP were Maguindanao (51%), Sulu (51%), Bukidnon (48%), Basilan (38%), Tawi-Tawi (35%) and Sultan Kudarat (35%). — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel