The Service sector, which remained the biggest contributor to the region’s output at 41.8 percent, grew at a faster rate of 5.0 percent from 3.8 percent the previous year. Except for Transportation, Communication and Storage, all subsectors recorded accelerated growths. Growth of Transportation, Communication and Storage slipped to 4.2 percent from 4.3 percent in 2008. Trade, on the other hand posted a 2.8 percent growth, a very slight improvement from the 2.7 percent expansion in 2008. Similarly, Finance registered an uptrend at 8.5 percent in 2009 against a 5.7 percent growth a year ago. Growth of Ownership of Dwellings and Real Estate improved to 3.9 percent from 3.1 percent in 2008. Increases in residential building construction and real estate revenues were noted during the year. Private services improved to 7.6 percent, higher than the 5.9 percent growth recorded in 2008. The booming tourism activities in the region were a major contributor to the sustained growth. Government services improved to 7.0 percent from 3.2 percent a year ago.

Growth in the Industry sector surged from 7.4 percent in 2008 to 18.3 percent in 2009. The 64.6 percent growth of the mining sector, brought about by the region’s increased gold and other metallic mineral output, largely accounted for the robust performance of Industry. Manufacturing managed to stay afloat with a 1.0 percent growth, down from 4.6 percent in the previous year. The weak performances of food and beverage manufactures weighed heavily on the subsector’s growth. Construction accelerated to 7.6 percent from 6.7 percent a year ago. Electricity and Water, on the other hand, slumped by 4.2 percent in 2009, a reversal from the robust 16.7 percent expansion in 2008. Shut downs and rehabilitation works hampered the full operation of the region’s power generating units. The improved performance of Industry in 2009 further increased the sector’s share to the total regional economy from 25.9 percent in 2008 to 28.4 percent in 2009.

The growth of Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry accelerated to 4.1 percent in 2009 from 2.0 percent in 2008. Improved production of the region’s major agricultural commodities, notably palay, coconut, banana and abaca, buoyed up the sector’s performance. The rebound of the livestock and poultry industry from continued slump in the past years further boosted the industry’s performance. Meanwhile, the Fishery sector continued to turn in positive contribution to the economy. The share of the Agriculture industry to the total economy dropped from 31.0 percent in 2008 to 29.8 percent in 2009.

Industry was the largest contributor to the economic performance of Bicol Region in 2009 accounting for 4.8 percentage points of the 8.2 percent growth. Services contributed 2.2 percentage points, while the Agriculture sector’s share was 1.3 percentage points.

Per capita GRDP for the Bicol Region increased from P7,210.00 in 2008 to P7,650.00 in 2009. The 6.1 percent growth in the per capita GRDP of the Bicol Region improved the region’s ranking from third lowest in 2008 to fourth lowest in 2009 among regions of the country.

Source: National Statistical Coordination Board

Date Posted: August 5, 2010