BUTUAN CITY (MindaNews/18 June) – The province of Agusan del Norte last year collected P587, 505,371 in revenues aside from generating hundreds of millions of pesos in investments and thousands of jobs, Gov. Erlpe John Amante yesterday said in his state of the province address at the provincial capitol here.
Amante said the province generated a total investments of P622.4 million which created 6,491 jobs while its export and domestic sales reached $3.25 million and P36.6 million, respectively.
He attributed the performance in revenue collection to the “adeptness” of provincial agencies in generating income over the years.
The report did not say, however, if the 2009 figures were higher than those in 2008, although the governor described the provincial economy’s performance as exceptional for having posted “notable accomplishments”.
It also did not specify the kinds of jobs created by the investments.
Amante cited the implementation of various projects under the Caraga Integrated Development Programs as having spurred the province’s productivity.
He said the province obtained P16.27 million for farm-to-market roads, farm machineries and equipment.
Similar projects amounting to P14.2 million were implemented under the Mindanao Rural Development Program, he said, adding these economic pump priming programs were enhanced by the construction of 82 accessibility and transport projects costing P483 million.
Amante also reported that 324 hectares of agricultural lands were distributed to 202 landless farmers under the agrarian reform program.
He said 144 farmers organizations composed of 10,267 members have raised a combined asset of P95 million.
“Farmers are now active players in the agricultural productivity drive in the province,” Amante told an audience composed of provincial board members, town mayors, barangay captains and heads of provincial and national agencies.
Records at the provincial agriculture office show that in 2009 rice posted an average yield of 4.2 metric tons per hectare and corn 3.0 metric tons per hectare.
Amante said the National Food Authority (NFA) procured 27,755 cavans of rice and 1,924 cavans of corn in 2009 at prices advantageous to the farmers. (Alden Pantaleon, Jr./MindaNews)