Metro Manila-based agriculture firms received all the subsidies extended by the government to the sector in 2014, according to latest report from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
In the preliminary data from the 2014 Annual Survey of Philippine Business and Industry (ASPBI), the PSA said Filipino taxpayers extended P3.2 billion worth of tax exemptions and other perks to agriculture firms in 2014.
The subsidies to the sector in 2014 declined by 49.2 percent, from the P6.3 billion recorded in 2013.
“Establishments engaged in support activities to agriculture and postharvest-crop activities located in NCR were the only recipient of subsidies in 2014,”
the PSA said.
The survey covered agriculture, forestry and fishing for establishments with Total Employment (TE) of 20 and over.
Subsidies are special grants extended by the government in the form of financial assistance or tax exemption or tax privilege to aid and develop
an industry.
Despite the subsidies, the bulk of the total value of output of the sector came from Mindanao in 2014.
The total value of output generated by agriculture, forestry and fishing establishments with TE of 20 and over reached P137.9 billion in 2014.
Davao region generated the highest value of output, with P36.6 billion, or 26.5 percent of the total.
This was followed by Northern Mindanao and Soccsksargen with respective shares of 18.8 percent, or P25.9 billion, and 17.1 percent, or P23.6 billion.
“The top 3 regions in terms of value of output are all located in Mindanao, with a combined value of output of 62.4 percent of the total,” the PSA said.
In 2014 there were a total of 1,160 agriculture, forestry and fishing establishments with TE of 20 and over.
Among the industries, animal production led the sector with 365 establishments, accounting for 31.5 percent of the total figure.
This was followed by the growing of nonperennial and perennial crops with 308 establishments, or 26.6 percent of the total, and 206 establishments, or 17.8 percent, respectively.
At the regional level, Western Visayas recorded the highest number of establishments at 268, or 23.1 percent, of the total. Davao region followed with 174 establishments, or 15 percent.
Other regions with more than a hundred number of establishments are Central Luzon, with 131 establishments, or 11.3 percent; Northern Mindanao, 129 establishments, or 11.1 percent; and Calabarzon, 119 establishments, or 10.3 percent.
Data collected from the survey provide information on the levels, structure, performance and trends of economic activities of the formal sector in the entire country for the year 2014.
The survey was conducted nationwide in April 2015 with the year 2014 as the reference period of data, except for employment, which is as of November 15, 2014.