SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union—The Regional Development Council of the Ilocos-Pangasinan area headed by Governor Deogracias Savellano has adopted agri-industrialization and tourism as major development thrusts of the region for the next three years.

The region’s economy, according to studies made by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), including one by Ms. Irene Ubungen of the graduate studies of Don Mariano Marcos Memorial State University (DMMMSU), is predominantly driven by agri-fishery and forestry sector and the services sector.

The industry sector contributes a meager portion to the region’s economy, the studies also revealed.

A deeper examination of the data however revealed that the industry sector’s overall effect to the region’s economy is overwhelming because it tends to dictate the region’s economy.

This means that when the industry sector is down in its performance, the region’s gross domestic product (GDP) follows suit, and vice-versa.

Savellano thus opted to pursue the industrialization of the agriculture sector, particularly on processing high value cash crops such as mango, tobacco, bangus, onion and garlic.
Industrialization of the agriculture sector will mean the realigning of funds and resources for manufacturing and processing of agricultural products.

On the other hand, NEDA Regional Director Leonardo N. Quitos, Jr., RDC vice chairman, mentioned that the non-metallic mineral resources of the region are another potential “growth driver”.

“Harnessing the full potential of the large deposits of gravel, sand and limestone for export to China and Taiwan could stimulate growth in the region’s economy”, said Quitos.

Department of Trade and Industry Regional Director Florante O. Leal pledged the full support of his office and his committee on economic development sector for the new development thrust of the RDC-1.

Savellano is optimistic that the region’s economy will improve with the invigoration of the agriculture-industry and tourism sector, and tapping the export potentials of the non-metallic resources of the region.