By CHRIS V. PANGANIBAN
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — The Province of Dinagat Islands recorded a 9.6 percent economic growth in 2024, making it the fastest-growing province in Mindanao and among the top three in the country, according to the latest Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data.
The growth is part of a rapid turnaround from a 4.6 percent contraction in 2022, followed by a 5.3 percent rebound in 2023, showing the resilience of the province’s economy.
. The source of the PSA data was taken from a report by Glennboy Liston, Chief Statistical Specialist of PSA Caraga released on September 25.
Just two years earlier, in 2022, the economy contracted by 4.3 percent, underscoring how steep the turnaround has been. The rebound continued in 2023, when Dinagat grew by 5.3 percent.
The PPA breakdown reveals what is fueling this transformation. Mining and quarrying surged by 20.7 percent; forestry, agriculture, and fishing rose by 13.1 percent; transportation and storage grew 11.8 percent. Industry now accounts for more than half of Dinagat’s economy (53.2 percent), followed by services (41.5 percent) and agriculture (5.3 percent). The per capita GDP for 2024 is estimated at ₱114,790.
In a news report by Dinagat Islands-Public Information Office, Gov. Nilo P. Demerey Jr. hailed the Philippine Statistics Authority – Provincial Statistical Office (PSA-PDI) for its continued support, commitment, and active role in transforming data into actionable programs.
Demerey noted this before members of the Provincial Development Council’s 30th full council meeting on Monday.
He also thanked department heads, national line agencies, civil society organizations, stakeholders, and all individuals working tirelessly in the province for their dedication and determination toward the Dinagat Islands’ development.
The governor emphasized that the province’s growth benefits not only businesses but also farmers, fisherfolk, and small enterprises. He credited infrastructure and social programs, including farm-to-market roads, healthcare improvements, and tourism development, as key pillars supporting the province’s progress.
But this rapid economic growth paints only part of the picture.
Poverty remains a persistent challenge in the islands. While Caraga region overall saw a drop in poverty among families in 2023, Dinagat Islands was an exception: its poverty incidence among families climbed to 30.7 percent (from 30.3 percent in 2021), and among the population, it rose to 37.8 percent (from 37.1 percent in 2021, according to a report of the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in April 16 last year.
Governor Nilo P. Demerey Jr. has framed Dinagat’s economic transformation as a “Dragon Economy,” emphasizing that the growth is not just for big businesses.
In his recent State of the Province Address, he highlighted that farmers, fisherfolk, and micro, small and medium enterprises are reaping the benefits of this development.
He also pointed to infrastructure and social services investments — including a ₱492-million farm-to-market road project, hospital upgrades, and tourism development — as key pillars of inclusive growth, according to the PNA report.
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