DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) – The economy of Ilocos Region grew by 7.6% in 2022, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Thursday.
Of the 7.6% of the growth in the economy of the country, Ilocos Region contributed a 3.3% share of the total Gross Domestic Product.
In a statement, the PSA said the service sector exhibited the “fastest growth among the major industries” in the region at 5.1%.
Accommodation and food services activities exhibited the highest growth at 39%.
Wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles, and motorcycles also registered the biggest contribution to regional economic growth at 1.54 percentage points, the PSA said.
From the expenditure side, Imports of goods from the Rest of the World exhibited the highest growth rate of 121.3%.
Household Final Consumption Expenditure (HFCE) registered the biggest contribution to expenditure growth at 4.6 percentage points.
PSA Ilocos regional director lawyer Sheila de Guzman said the region’s economy exhibited a rebound from the pandemic, having even surpassed pre-pandemic figures.
The Ilocos region’s economic growth in 2022 accounted for P654.9 billion, compared to P608.6 billion in 2021, the PSA added.
“The per capita Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of Ilocos Region in 2022 was P122,333, higher than the 2021 amount of 114,548,” according to the PSA report, with Ilocos region ranking 8th in terms of per capita GRDP among the 17 regions in the country.
Aside from services, industry, and agriculture also contributed to the economic growth of the region at 2.2 and 0.3 percent, respectively, the PSA said.
Meanwhile, the PSA said that at least 1.9 million identification cards (IDs) have been delivered in the Ilocos Region as of March 31 this year.
Of the total number, 156,424 were delivered in Ilocos Norte; 342,955 in Ilocos Sur; 403,749 in La Union; and 1,042,584 in Pangasinan.
De Guzman said the PSA continues to work with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas for a fast-tracked printing and production, and the Philippine Postal Corporation (Post Office) for the swift delivery of the IDs under the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys).
“On the other hand, Filipinos who wish to register with PhilSys may visit any registration center and would no longer need to pre-register online. Walk-in applicants must bring any primary or secondary supporting documents in order to be registered,” De Guzman said.
She added that the registration process involves the validation of an individual’s demographic information and the collection of biometric information.
Upon completion of the process, a transaction slip will be given to the registered person.
“The Provincial Statistical Offices in the region are also conducting PhilSys mobile registration activities as well as setting up registration centers at fixed locations and malls,” she said. (JCR/AMB/PIA Pangasinan)
