Bukidnon is top contributor to Philippines agriculture, fishing output

February 15, 2025 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — Bukidnon emerged as the top contributor to the country’s P1.8 trillion worth of agriculture, forestry and fishing (AFF) output in 2023, the Philippine Statistics Authority said.

The PSA said Bukidnon remained the largest contributor to the national AFF gross value added with a 7.1-percent share. The province bested 81 other provinces and 33 highly urbanized cities (HUCs) nationwide.

The province contributed nearly P129 billion to the GVA of the country’s AFF in 2023, according to the PSA.

“Moreover, other provinces which comprised the top 10 were: Nueva Ecija (4.6 percent); Pangasinan (3.8 percent); Pampanga (3.7 percent); Isabela (3.3 percent); Negros Occidental (3.1 percent); Davao del Norte (2.8 percent); Batangas (2.8 percent); Iloilo (2.7 percent) and Quezon (2.5 percent),” the PSA said.

“Collectively, these provinces accounted for more than a third or about 36.5 percent of the national GVA of AFF,” it said.

The GVA of AFF in 2023 rose by 1.2 percent from P1.78 trillion in 2022, the PSA said.

It said the majority of the provinces and HUCs posted annual growth in their AFF contributions in 2023 with Rizal registering the fastest growth at 19.9 percent. It was followed by Negros Oriental and Batanes with 15.8 percent growth and 14.7 percent growth, respectively, according to the PSA.

Meanwhile, the PSA added that 39 provinces nationwide saw AFF contributing the most in their respective economies.

“AFF’s share to the GDP was highest in Maguindanao del Sur, accounting for more than half or about 53.4 percent of the province’s total economy,” the PSA said.

“This was followed by Sulu and Bukidnon with AFF share of 53.2 percent and 49.8 percent to their respective GDP,” it added.

Completing the top 10 provinces with the largest share of AFF to their economies were Basilan (41.1 percent), Tawi-Tawi  (37.9 percent), Sultan Kudarat (37.6 percent), Lanao del Norte (34.9 percent), Sarangani (33.4 percent), Quirino (29.83 percent) and Isabela (29.8 percent).