Central Visayas exports, agri to post positive growth this year

CEBU, Philippines — The National Economic and Development Authority expects the exports and agriculture industries in Central Visayas to post a positive performance this year.

NEDA regional director Efren Carreon said the two sectors which were lagging in previous years had posted gains in 2017.

Central Visayas' export sales in the first semester of 2017 rose by 30.2 percent.

Electronic products remain the region's top export product but it has also diversified to non-electronic goods including woodcraft furniture, processed food and beverages.

With the increase of non-electronic products in the region's exports, specifically furniture and processed food and beverages, it is expected that this will create higher demand for local raw materials which are good for local producers.

"This is good especially for the raw material producers in the region and nearby regions," he said.

In a previous interview, Philippine Exporters Confederation Inc (Philexport)-Cebu executive director Fred Escalona is optimistic on the continued recovery of the export sector this year.

He had said he sees a growth of between 30-35 percent for Philippine exports this year.

"2018 will be a good year for the sector," Escalona said in an interview at the sidelines of the Usapang Exports forum in Cebu City yesterday.

The official said the export industry has experienced a good growth last year, projecting that the sector closed the year 2017 with a roughly 12 percent growth.

Escalona cited the increasing optimism in the global market as among the key factors that will drive the recovery of the export industry. He added the strong dollar has also helped exporters earn more.

On the other hand, agricultural production in the region also grew by 8.7 percent, with crops leading at 10.9 percent growth.

Unfortunately, the fishery sector went down by 7.8 percent due to slowdown in seaweeds production.

The Philippine Statistics Authority said the country's agriculture sector posted a 2.20 percent growth in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Improvements in production were noted in the crops, livestock and poultry subsectors.

On the other hand, the fisheries subsector recorded a decline in production during the same period.

At current prices, gross value of agricultural production amounted to P500.4 billion, up by 9.27 percent from the previous year’s record.

For the period January to December 2017, the sector’s gross output grew by 3.95 percent.

The crops subsector recorded a 2.66 percent increase in production in the fourth quarter of 2017. It contributed 51.20 percent to the total agricultural output.

The livestock subsector which shared 17.78 percent in the total agricultural production came up with a 1.84 percent output gain in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Poultry production expanded by 4.73 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017. It accounted for 15.40 percent of the total agricultural output.

The fisheries subsector registered a 1.18 percent reduction in output in the fourth quarter of 2017. It contributed 15.63 percent to the total agricultural production. (FREEMAN)