NEDA: Good Cordillera economy until Covid hit

By Carlito C. Dar

BAGUIO CITY -- The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) reported good economic performance for Cordillera for fiscal year 2019.

                But with Covid – 19 hitting the country in March this year, this caused setback in the region’s economy.

The regional NEDA said stronger and united front among development planners and stakeholders was needed to put recovery plan in action.

Regional Development Council vice chairperson and NEDA Cordillera regional director Milagros Rimando told a media forum Cordillera performed generally well in achieving targets set in the regional development goals that included social and human development, sustained economic growth,  cultural integrity and identity, physical integration and regional autonomy.

For social and human development, Rimando  said  poverty rate among families in Cordillera Administrative Region  went down to 8.6 percent from the 17.1 percent data in 2015; the region’s employment rate improved to 96.5 percent; underemployed reduced by 23,000 while 17,000 jobs were generated in 2019, mostly in the service sector.

Reduction on malnutrition prevalence (wasting, stunting, overweight and underweight) was also noted among 0 to 71 - months children and cases of teenage pregnancy also went down in 2019, she added.

On sustained economic growth, Rimando said inflation went down to 2.2 % in 2019 from the 3.8 % 2018 data.

Investments increased based on the data of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority, Securities and Exchange Commission and Dept. of Trade and Industry, which translated to more jobs in PEZA firms and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

On other development goals, Rimando  said in 2019, ancestral domain planning and promotion of indigenous people’s rights continued; 156,405 hectares were  reforested under the National Greening Program (since 2011); 99 percent of the regional roads were completed and paved by 94 percent.

The proposed bill for the establishment of the Autonomous Region of Cordillera was filed in the Senate and House of Representatives while intensified information dissemination also resulted to increased awareness and support for Cordillera autonomy.

As the pandemic brought setback on the region’s economic performance, Rimando urged support from the RDS and development partners in the region for economic recovery.

“We should work together not only to support our economic recovery. We have to help one another strengthen Cordillera resilience. We have to work together so we can bring ourselves back to the path of our vision. The Cordillera Development Vision to have culture and heritage rooted in spirituality, an autonomous region or empowered citizenry in a sustainable development where responsibilities and benefits are equitably shared by all,” Rimando said.

Based on RDC data, the Covid pandemic resulted to P18.6 billion in losses across all economic sectors and in partnership with the Cordillera Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council,  a Covid – 19 regional recovery and resiliency plan was crafted wherein P33.4 billion fund was needed for  recovery. -- JDP/CCD-PIA CAR