The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – La Union Provincial Statistical continuously carries out its mission to deliver relevant and reliable statistics under the new normal through the conduct of the Data Dissemination on Selected Agricultural Statistics, Inflation, and Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Accomplishments on August 27, 2021 via video conferencing.

Representatives from National Government Agencies (NGAs), Local Government Units (LGUs), academe and the media attended the online data dissemination.
Mr. Malvin A. Quinto, Supervising Statistical Specialist, was the first resource person who provided information on Palay and Corn Situation in 2nd Quarter 2021. The highlights of his report on palay and corn situation in the province are as follows:

• The volume of palay production in La Union in 2nd quarter 2021 was recorded at 9,602 metric tons, 2.83 percent lower than the volume of palay production in the province in the same period of 2020 at 9,882 metric tons. Among the four provinces of Ilocos Region, La Union recorded the least volume of palay production in 2nd quarter 2021 with 5.14 percent of the total palay production in the region.

• The volume of corn production in La Union increased by 0.33 percent in 2nd quarter 2021 at 11,534.00 metric tons from 11,496.00 metric tons in 2nd quarter 2020. Among the provinces in Ilocos Region, La Union posted the least volume of corn production in 2nd quarter 2021 accounting to 6.62 percent of the total volume of corn production in the region.

Mr. Artemio A. Alibayan, Statistical Specialist II reported on the Fisheries Situation 2nd quarter in La Union 2021. Below is an excerpt from his report.

• La Union’s total volume of fisheries production in 2nd quarter 2021 was recorded at 4,632.30 metric tons, an increase of 12.32 percent from the 4,124.28 metric tons production in 2nd quarter 2020.

• Among the fisheries subsectors, aquaculture posted the largest contribution to the fisheries output in the province in 2nd quarter 2021 with a share of 3,651.00 metric tons or 78.82 percent of the total fisheries production of the province.
• Municipal fisheries ranked second with 711.94 metric tons contributing 15.37 percent to the total fisheries production of the province. Commercial fisheries had the smallest contribution to the total volume of production in the province with 269.36 metric tons or 5.81 percent share.

• In 2nd quarter 2021, the top five species in terms of volume of production were: milkfish (bangus) with 3,616.58 metric tons (78.07 percent share); slipmouth (sapsap) with 78.39 metric tons (1.69 percent share); threadfin bream (bisugo) with 70.72 metric tons (1.53 percent share); big-eyed scad (matangbaka) with 50.04 metric tons (1.08 percent share); and snapper (maya-maya) with 46.21 metric tons (1.00 percent share).

Meanwhile, Chief Statistical Specialist Danites E. Teñido, Ph.D. presented on the summary inflation report in 2nd quarter 2021 of the province. The highlights of her report are as follows:

• The average Consumer Price Index (CPI) in La Union in 2nd quarter 2021 was recorded at 117.7. The said figure was 2.8 percentage points higher than the average CPI in the same period of 2020 of 114.9 and a half percentage point lower than the past quarter’s CPI of 118.2.

• La Union’s year-on-year headline inflation slowed down to an average of 2.5 percent in 2nd quarter 2021 from a quarter-ago average of 3.1 percent.

• Among major commodity groups in 2nd quarter 2021, alcoholic beverages and tobacco index posted the highest average annual inflation rate at 11.9 percent.   It was followed by the average inflation in the transport index at 9.3 percent distantly followed by the average inflation in the indices of clothing and footwear at 3.1 percent; health at 2.6 percent; and food and non-alcoholic beverages at 2.0 percent.

• On the other hand, the lowest average annual inflation rate during the quarter was seen in the recreation and culture index at -0.4 percent. Zero growth were both recorded in the average annual inflation in the indices of education and communication.

Lastly, Mr. Mart Marciano Antonn A. Aromin, PhilSys Focal Person, presented on PhilSys updates. In his report, as of July 26, 2021, La Union had a total of 25,562 registrants for PhilSys Step 1 Online Registration and 387,133 individuals who have completed the PhilSys Step 2 Registration that involves validation of supporting documents and capturing of biometric information.

SGD. DANITES E. TEÑIDO, Ph.D.
Chief Statistical Specialist