The Economic Sector |
Agriculture
Farming and Cropping
 In
the Land Use Plan of the City of Tagbilaran (1978) about 32
percent of the total land area or 1,046.6 hectares, has been
classified as agricultural use. Per record of the City Agriculture
Office, only 352.2 hectares are actually devoted to agricultural
cropping which is 33.6 percent of the classified agricultural
use lands. A total of 2,662 farmers or 3.5 percent of the
total population are involved.
Crops grown are mostly for food sustenance of the farmers.
Commercial crops of economic value are very limited.
Among the crops grown, corn accounts for the biggest portion
of the land with 145 hectares or 38.9 percent. A total of
299 farmers are involved with an average production of 2.1
metric tons per hectare which is below the production parameters
of the Department of Agriculture which is 4 tons to a hectare.
Rice farming accounts a land area of 1 hectare with 18 farmers
involved. On the average, one farmer tills about 555.5 square
meters only. Rice production is recorded at 1.6 metric tons
per hectare compared to the Department of Agriculture parameter
of 3.5 metric tons to a hectare for rainfed with moderate
fertilization. If this is any indication rice is grown not
as a cash crop but purely for household consumption only.
Rootcrops are among the marginal farmers’ crops, and are grown
for livelihood support. The land area cultivated to rootcrops
such as ubi, casava, camote and gabi totals to 56.5 hectares
cultivated by 338 farmers. Like the other crops, rootcrops
do not find its way to the market.
Industrial crops like coffe, cacao and spices are not grown
on plantations as it should be. A very minimal land area 2.25
hectares is all that is being utilized for these crops. Production
is very negligible.
Fruit production accounts a land area of 132.8 hectares with
1,375 farmers. Except perhaps for mango, pineapple or citrus,
the other fruit trees are grown as homelot plants.
With the foregoing data it is safe to infer that agricultural
activity in Tagbilaran, particularly cropping, is characteristically
marginal and definitely not as an economic support base for
its people.
The classified agricultural land in the city is steadily decreasing
due to the fact that more and more land here are actually
converted into urban uses. On the other hand, land demand
for urban and settlement use has been increasing.
Livestock and Poultry
The livestock and poultry industry is becoming a lucrative
business considering the rapid population growth of the city.
Barangays Cabawan, Tiptip and Dampas are potential areas for
livestock and poultry production. With the establishment of
the multi-million livestock complex in Barangay Tiptip, livestock
industry will definitely be given a shot in the arm. It is
becoming apparent that more and more investors are now investing
in poultry and livestock.
In 1997 the animal population of the city has 943 cattle;
9,220 swine; 1,552 goat and 33,549 chicken.
With a steadily increasing population and the regular influx
of visitors, the consumption demand of meat will proportionately
increase. There is a need to increase animal production in
the city, not only to meet the demand but for export as well.
The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) records of 1997 showed
that 837.64 metric tons of live animals were shipped out while
only 199.26 metric tons have been shipped in. The lopsided
difference in the import–export of livestock is attributed
to the absence of a Class "AA" abattoir which is a requirement
for meat exportation and the absence of meat processing plants
in the City.
In Barangay Tiptip where the city’s livestock special development
zone is located, a multi-million peso integrated livestock
complex project has begun. Funding will come from the Department
of Agriculture (DA) and from the National Meat Inspection
Committee (NMIC) under the food security program of President
Estrada.
 A
Class "AA" Abattoir project with a total project cost of PhP
18 million is presently being constructed on the area and
about to be finished. The remaining phase of the project are
the hog and cattle line which still need PhP 11 million to
complete. With these support facilities the economic and financial
viability of livestock ventures are high.
The initial funding of PhP 5 million to construct the main
building phase of the construction which include the hogging
and cattle line is now on-going with funding from the NMIC. |
SOURCE:
Socio-Economic Profile: City of Tagbilaran, 2002
(Office of the City Planning and Development Coordinator) |
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