The National Capital Region (NCR) cornered the lion’s share of the P3.6 billion in subsidies extended by Filipino taxpayers to the agriculture, forestry and fishing establishments in 2012, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
PSA data showed that a total of P3.49 billion was allocated to the NCR where there were only 29 agriculture-based establishments.
Subsidies take the form of financial assistance, tax exemption or tax privilege given by the government to aid and develop an industry.
“Subsidies granted by the government to support the business operation of all agriculture, forestry and fishing establishments in 2012 amounted to P3.6 billion, grew more than five times [470.9 percent] than P622.8 million in 2010,” the PSA said.
Apart from Metro Manila, regions that received large subsidies were Western Visayas with P55.28 million, and Cagayan Valley, P7.74 million. The smallest subsidy was extended to Central Visayas at P9,000.
PSA data showed that not all regions received subsidies. There were six regions that did not receive subsidies in 2012. These are the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Northern Mindanao, Zamboanga Peninsula, Bicol, Calabarzon, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
“Combined value of the top 2 industries, in terms of subsidies received, amounted to P3.5 billion, accounting for 98.1 percent of the total.
Operation of irrigation systems through noncooperatives received the highest with P2.3 billion, or 64.9 percent, of the total subsidies,” the PSA said.
“Services to establish crops, promote their growth and protect them from pests and diseases, n.e.c. followed with P1.2 billion [33.3 percent],” it added.
The final results of the 2012 Census of Philippine Business and Industry showed that there were 2,461 establishments engaged in agriculture, forestry and fishing activities in the formal sector of the economy.
By region, Central Luzon recorded the highest number of agriculture, forestry and fishing establishments with 463, or 18.8 percent, of the total. Western Visayas followed next with 384 establishments, or 15.6 percent, of the total; Calabarzon, 314 establishments, or 12.8 percent; Davao region, 299 establishments, or 12.1 percent; Northern Mindanao, 197 establishments, or 8 percent; and Central Visayas, 178 establishments,. or 7.2 percent.
The regions with the least number of establishments are Caraga with 46 firms; Metro Manila, 29 firms; Cagayan Valley, 25 firms; ARMM, 14 firms; and CAR, 13 firms.
While most of the firms were engaged in hog raising, companies that grew Cavendish bananas employed the most number of workers.
Hog farming led the sector with 397 establishments, or 16.1 percent, of the total count.
This was followed by the growing of sugarcane including muscovado sugar-making in the farm ranked second with 309 establishments, or 12.6-percent share.
Data showed that the total employment in agriculture, forestry and fishing establishments reached 164,706 in 2012, an increase of 27,458 workers or 20 percent from 137,248 workers recorded in 2010.
The top 5 industries in terms of employment generation comprised 70.2 percent of the total work force of the sector.
Firms involved in growing Cavendish banana were the top employers with 46,555 workers or 28.3 percent of the total, followed by growing of sugarcane including muscovado sugar-making in the farm with 34,508 workers, or 21-percent share.
Commercial ocean fishing came in third place with 16,475 workers, or 10 percent. Hog farming and growing of pineapple followed next with 10,506 workers (6.4 percent) and 7,642 workers (4.6 percent), respectively.
By region, Davao emerged as the largest employment generator in 2012 with 38,079 workers, or 23.1 percent of the total.
This was followed by Western Visayas with 29,571 workers or 18 percent of the total and Soccsksargen with 18,459 workers, or 11.2 percent.
Northern Mindanao and NCR came next with 17,049 workers (10.4 percent) and 12,411 workers (7.5 percent), respectively.