19 December 2022 – Baguio City. The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) releases the first ever report of the Provincial Product Accounts (PPA) of CAR covering the period 2018 to 2021. This release covers six provinces, namely, Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, and Mountain Province, as well as the Highly Urbanized City (HUC) of Baguio.

The PPA results showed that in 2021, the City of Baguio led the economy of the region with a share of 44.8 percent. This was followed by the Province of Benguet with a share of 24.1 percent. The provinces of Kalinga, Ifugao, and Abra had shares of 8.0 percent, 7.8 percent, and 7.2 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, Mountain Province shared 4.4 percent and Apayao had 3.6 percent share to the regional economy of CAR. (Table 1 and Figure 1)

In terms of growth in 2021, the Province of Abra recorded the fastest growth of 10.0 percent, followed by the City of Baguio which grew by 9.9 percent. Of the 7.5 percent growth of the region during the period, the City of Baguio contributed the most with 4.3 percentage points. (Table 1)

The PPA is a mechanism to compile the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at the subregional level. Complementing the GDP at the national level and the Gross Regional Domestic Product at the regional level, the PPA will provide a suitable measure of economic performance at the provincial/HUC level. It will also be a source of indicators that monitor economic development at the local level. Moreover, the PPA is viewed as a means to strengthen the planning and decision-making of provincial policymakers and stakeholders in crafting more informed economic policies.

CAR, along with CALABARZON, Western Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Davao Region, and SOCCSKSARGEN, were selected as pilot regions for the compilation of PPA in 2022. In 2021, MIMAROPA Region, Northern Mindanao, and Central Visayas were the pilot regions. To date, the PPA compilation covers 46 provinces and 13 HUCs in the nine regions. The results covering the period 2018 to 2021 were consistent with the annual regional accounts released on 28 April 2022.

Complete statistical tables, charts, and data visuals on the PPA of CAR can be accessed at http://psa.gov.ph/ppa. Results of the PPA are also released by the respective provincial offices of the PSA through http://rssocar.psa.gov.ph/ppa.

DENNIS S. MAPA, Ph.D.
Undersecretary
National Statistician and Civil Registrar General