Municipal Agricultural Support in the Philippines: Has Devolution Led to Locally Responsive Performance?

Rural development trends in the Philippines point to slow growth and declining contribution of the rural economy to the national development. Over the past two decades, the growth of the agriculture, hunting, forestry, and fishing sector has averaged 2.8 percent annually [Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 2020] (Figure 1). PSA likewise reports that the sector’s contribution to GDP has shrunk from 15.8 percent in 1989 to 7.8 percent in 2019. This is reflected in the decline of its share of workforce employment to 27 percent in 2016 from 35.8 percent in 2006. While these patterns reflect the continuing process of transformation from the agrarian economy, it is concerning to note that poverty incidence remains highest in the countryside despite significant reduction at the aggregate level. Growth that targets improvement in the quality of life and economic well-being in rural communities is hence crucial in development.