Cordillera books fastest economic growth in 2017 among regions

MANILA, Philippines — Across regions, Cordillera Administrative Region posted the fastest economic growth in 2017, while the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao still managed to chalk up positive growth despite the bloody Marawi siege that lasted for five months, the government reported on Thursday.

Data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority show CAR, which registered a 12.1 percent growth last year, took the top spot in terms of economic expansion, followed by Davao Region (10.9 percent), Western Visayas (8.4 percent) and SOCCSKSARGEN (8.2 percent).

The ARMM clocked a 7.3-percent gross regional domestic product growth, making it the fifth fastest growing region in the country for the year.

Meanwhile, Cagayan Valley (7.2 percent), CALABARZON (6.7 percent), MIMAROPA (6.2 percent) and Caraga (4.3 percent) were behind ARMM.

Clashes between government forces and the pro-Islamic State Maute militants broke out in Marawi City, provincial capital of Lanao del Sur, in May last year, triggering what may be the biggest internal security crisis in the Philippines since the siege of Zamboanga City in 2013.

President Rodrigo Duterte, in his Proclamation 216, placed Mindanao under military rule to foil what he said was Maute’s plan to establish a caliphate for IS. Last December, Congress swiftly granted Duterte martial law powers over the entire island for an extra year.

According to reports, restoring the war-torn city could cost at least P72 billion.

Slower pace for NCR, parts of Visayas

Despite all 17 regions recording positive economic growth in 2017, the PSA said some of the regions grew at a slower pace, including:

• Central Luzon grew (9.3 percent)
• NCR (6.1 percent)
• Northern Mindanao (5.9 percent)
• Ilocos Region (5.8 percent)
• Central Visayas (5.1 percent)
• Bicol Region (5.1 percent)
• Zamboanga Peninsula (2.3 percent)
• Eastern Visayas (1.8 percent)

“NCR continued to account for the largest share of the country’s Gross Domestic Product at 36.4 percent,” the statistics agency said, adding that Metro Manila remains to have the highest real per capita Gross Regional Domestic Product last year.