From the Sidelines
By: Ray G. Talimio Jr.
“Cagayan de Oro is strengthening its position as Northern Mindanao’s economic center, but growth matters most when Kagay-anons feel its benefits.”
Cagayan de Oro continues to demonstrate its growing importance in the Mindanao economy.
Based on the latest 2025 Provincial Product Accounts of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the city’s economy reached P319.66B at constant 2018 prices, from P295.57B in 2024. The city posted 5.7% economic growth in 2025.
CdeO’s per capita GDP reached P418,672, the highest in Northern Mindanao. The city also accounted for about 28.6% of the region’s P1.12T economy, giving it the largest share among Northern Mindanao’s provinces and highly urbanized cities.
The city benefits from a diversified economic base encompassing trade, services, manufacturing, construction, ICT and IT-BPM, logistics, tourism and agriculture. Its strategic location and connectivity to ports, major highways and Laguindingan Airport further strengthen its role as Northern Mindanao’s commercial and logistics gateway.
CdeO has likewise gained recognition in competitiveness, resiliency, innovation, infrastructure governance and financial management. These distinctions reinforce the economic numbers, but awards and GDP figures alone should never become the ultimate measure of development.
The bigger challenge is translating a P319.66B economy into better-paying jobs, stronger MSMEs, improved infrastructure, more investments and better public services.
Economic growth becomes meaningful when its benefits reach ordinary Kagay-anons.
Sources: Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Provincial Product Accounts 2025; Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index; Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG); Department of Budget and Management (DBM); AMBIT Awards.
Photo Credits: Philippine Statistics Authority; City Government of Cagayan de Oro; DTI Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index; Department of the Interior and Local Government; Department of Budget and Management; AMBIT Awards.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the organizations and institutions with which he is affiliated.
About the Author: Ray G. Talimio Jr. is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), economist, tax advisor, columnist and business consultant. He is a Past President and Past Chairman of the Oro Chamber, former Co-Chairman of the RDC-X Economic Development Committee, former Chairman of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Development (MSMED) Council of Misamis Oriental and Cagayan de Oro, a PICPA National Officer, and a member of the Association of Certified Public Accountants in Public Practice (ACPAPP).#CagayandeOroCity
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