Negros Island Economy Hits PHP 636B in 2024

TALISAY CITY, Negros Occidental – The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) of the Negros Island Region (NIR) reached PHP 636 billion in 2024, with a 5.9 percent growth rate from the previous year.

This was the highlight of the PSA’s first regional news conference held April 22, 2025, at Nature’s Village Resort, where the 2024 Regional Accounts of the Philippines were presented with a focus on the newly reinstated NIR.

The PHP 636-billion output represented an increase of PHP 35.35 billion from 2023, though it marked a deceleration from the 7.8 percent growth the region recorded in the previous year.

Dr. Claire Dennis S. Mapa, undersecretary and national statistician, opened the conference and underscored the importance of regional data in shaping economic policy and local development initiatives.

Interim Regional Director John F. Campomanes of the PSA Regional Statistical Services Office in NIR presented the highlights of the economic performance.

“The 2024 data not only validates the economic potential of Negros Island but also gives us clear targets for continued growth,” Campomanes said.

Engr. Marlon T. Jinon of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) – NIR emphasized the strategic importance of sustaining key drivers of growth.

“This performance is anchored on strong export activity, continued infrastructure development, and increased demand for services,” Jinon said.

On the demand side, the region’s Gross Regional Domestic Expenditure (GRDE) also grew by 5.9 percent, mirroring the GRDP rate.

Exports of Goods to the Rest of the World were the biggest contributor, posting a 22.0 percent jump.

Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) in Construction rose by 20.6 percent, driven by a surge in private and public infrastructure projects.

Imports of Services from the Rest of the World also grew by 18.3 percent, pointing to higher consumption of foreign professional and technical services.

Despite the slightly slower growth compared to 2023, officials said the economy remained resilient amid external headwinds and domestic adjustments.

The PSA said it would continue to produce disaggregated data on provincial and sectoral levels, especially with the formal activation of NIR as a full-fledged region.

Negros Island Region comprises Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental, and the independent city of Bacolod.

The region was officially restored in 2024 following the signing of Republic Act No. 12000, creating NIR as the country’s 18th administrative region.

The new structure allows for streamlined planning, service delivery, and economic coordination across the two provinces.

“The data we present today will help inform decisions that shape the trajectory of the region’s development,” Campomanes added.

The PSA encouraged the public to access official reports through their website and to follow their Negros Occidental Provincial Statistics Office page for localized updates.

For more updates from the Provincial Statistics Office of Negros Occidental, the public may follow the office’s official Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/psa0645negocc.