Agriculture Is It

The title seems a bit strange, doesn't it? What I simply want to emphasize is agriculture that's carrying the burden of this region's economic growth. And it's doing good. Consider the stats for the first quarter (January to March) compared to the same period last year.

With palay production up by 7.2 percent and corn production up by 37.3 percent, what else could I say?

Yes, copra production was steady, but look at how copra prices have surged from P13.36 per kilo last year to P19.46 per kilo this month.

Hog raising was also up by 12.2 percent. Fish production was up 9.8 percent. These figures tell us we're doing fine.

No wonder power consumption was up 9.4 percent and airline passengers' volume increased by 18.5 percent.

Prices? The inflation rate stood at only 2.7 percent, with food prices increasing by only 1.3 percent.

All told, these figures give me a lot of satisfaction, and a lot of pride in the ability of our farmers and fishermen to produce more. It also means our infrastructure supporting agricultural producers are a big factor that has motivated farmers to increase production. Our farmers are responding to the market and are doing fine.

On the road to more progress? It certainly looks like it.