Guimaras province’s economy posted a 9 percent growth rate in 2022, reaching a value of P16.13 billion, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

During the Provincial Products Accounts (PPA) presentation on Nov. 29, PSA-Guimaras noted that the number posted an increase from the 7.7 percent gross domestic product (GDP) recorded in 2021, which is valued at P14.80 billion.

“In terms of the share of the economy in the province, services had the biggest share accounting for 53.0 percent of the total economy of Guimaras,” PSA-Guimaras Chief Statistical Specialist Nelida Losare said, noting that the agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors also contributed 31.5 percent to the economy, while 15.5 percent from the industry sector.

The fastest-growing industries in the province in 2022 were also recorded in other services at 45.0 percent, accommodation and food service activities at 34.2 percent, and transportation and storage at 19.4 percent.

With the positive growth recorded by the island province, Gov. JC Rahman Nava said that the province is on the right track and has shown resilience as it already recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The figure would show how resilient Guimaras over the years and also the pandemic […] The increase in growth, percentage-wise, is a testament to how resilient the sector is and how Guimaras is recovering from the effects of the pandemic,” Nava said.

“Nevertheless, the return to normalcy, I think Guimaras is on the right track right now. We are still hopeful about som other sectors or industries that may be promising on our part,” he added.

Nava also stressed that developing the “green and blue industries” in the island would further boost the economy of the province, citing that the local government units (LGUs) should create programs related to the environment and on sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and jobs, while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem.

The governor added that the development of roads in the province and the realization of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros (PGN) Bridge will further propel the economy of the province as investors will gain more interest in putting up businesses in the province.

Overall, Guimaras accounted for 1.7 percent of the 9.3 percent or P955.02 billion GDP of Western Visayas in 2022, according to PSA data.AAL/JNH/PIA Iloilo