CAGAYAN de Oro City — Misamis Occidental is banking on tourism development and targeted agricultural assistance to sustain economic growth after several sectors contracted in 2025, according to provincial officials.
The province’s economy grew 3.8% in 2025, with services up 8.2%, William I. Valles Jr., provincial planning and development coordinator, said during the Philippine Statistics Authority’s Provincial Product Accounts (PPA) Data Dissemination Forum on Oct. 13.
“Our growth, although at 3.8%, is still positive growth compared to our previous economic performance,” Valles said.
The provincial government plans to expand tourism beyond Oroquieta and Ozamiz cities by developing destinations in other parts of the province.
One proposed initiative is a coastal and mountain tourism loop covering Lopez Jaena, Plaridel, Baliangao, Sapang Dalaga, Concepcion and Calamba, with potential eco-tourism and cultural attractions.
But the province also faces challenges in agriculture, transportation and storage, mining and quarrying, and construction, which declined in 2025, according to data presented at the forum.
Continuing African swine fever (ASF) reduced the total market value of livestock. Provincial officials identified targeted assistance and stronger biosecurity measures as priorities for rebuilding livestock populations.
Construction also contracted amid a review of Department of Public Works and Highways projects following issues involving flood-control projects, Valles said. He added that implementation was gradually resuming.
Valles urged the government to speed up project implementation and investigate the factors behind agriculture’s decline.
“Let us improve implementation and make it faster. We must also examine the underlying factors behind the decline in our agriculture sector and provide focused interventions,” he said.
The challenge is turning proposed interventions into measurable results.
The forum report did not specify the budget, timeline or target visitor numbers for the proposed tourism loop. It also did not provide figures on livestock losses, planned assistance for affected farmers or the value of delayed and resuming construction projects.
Publishing these details would help residents and businesses assess whether the province’s growth strategy can address losses in agriculture and other contracting sectors, rather than relying mainly on expansion in services.
The PPA provides provincial economic data to guide policymakers in assessing sector performance and planning development programs.
The forum was part of the 37th National Statistics Month observance, which carries the theme “TuKlas Pilipinas: Statistics as Beacon Towards Inclusive, Resilient, and Sustainable Tourism.”
(With a report from Jasper Marie O. Rucat/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)
