ECONOMIC SECTOR PROFILE

Agriculture

The local economy of Irosin is basically agricultural. About 46% of gainful workers rely on crop production and farm labor for livelihood and sustenance. Palay is the primary crop being produced in 2,019.96 hectares of lands in 17 barangays of which 1,939.03 is irrigated and 80.93 is rainfed. There are 2,155 rice farmers in Irosin wherein 1,540 are males and 615 are females. Total palay production in 2022 was 3,360 kg/ha with a total volume of 6,787.06 metric tons. At P 13.50/kg value, the total palay production is valued at P 91,625,385. The supply of palay is enough to meet the demand of the population with surplus being sold to neighboring municipalities and provinces.

 

Coconut, the local commercial export crop, rank second in terms of volume produced and the yield is estimated at 2,278.27 metric tons of copra from 4,224 hectares of land. At P 39.08/kg value, the total value of copra production is P 89,034,791.60. Production of banana is 636.40 metric tons valued at P 15,910,000 and pili is 184.98 metric tons valued at P 2,774,700. Adding up the production of other high value commercial crops, the total crop production value of Irosin’s agricultural sector is estimated at P 203,901,777.

 

The total peso-value of livestock, poultry and fish production in 2022 is estimated at P 223,011,620. Swine production yielded P 765.16 metric tons with a value of P 214,245,920. Cattle production is at 21.17 metric tons valued at P 8,466,800. Fishery production is miniscule at only 10.88 metric tons valued at P 1,088,000.  Agriculture support infrastructures and facilities are mostly for palay production, such as hand tractors, sprayers, irrigation system, solar and mechanical dryers, threshers, rice mills and storage facilities, and farm-to-market roads.

The observed conditions and issues raised on the agricultural sector are as follows:

  • Average annual palay yield is low at 3.36 metric tons per hectare in 2022
  • High value crops production (vegetables and root crops) is low with 778 metric tons in 2022, local requirement is 8,147 metric tons for self-sufficiency
  • Lack of agriculture trading post and storage facilities
  • Livestock production is low at 787 metric tons in 2022, local requirement for meat/eggs is 2,017 metric tons for self-sufficiency
  • Poor condition of municipal slaughterhouse
  • Inland fisheries production is only 10.88 metric tons in 2022, from a 3.57 fishpond area
  • No farmer practicing organic farming
  • Poor condition of communal irrigation system
  • Average age of farmers is 50-60 years old

Trade, Industry and Tourism

There are 813 total registered businesses in 2022 of which only one is from primary, 24 from secondary and 788 from tertiary sector. The secondary sector business establishments are rice mills, construction business, furniture manufacturers, food manufacturers and a coco-fiber stitching plant. The tertiary sector businesses are mostly engaged in wholesale and retail stores selling various kinds of merchandise including meat, fish, vegetable dealers and consumer goods. There are also service shops, eateries, bakeries, food processors, drugstores, space rentals, groceries and department stores and various businesses. There are 6 banks and 27 non-bank financial institutions. Trading and business transaction are concentrated mainly at the Central Business District (CBD) in the town center. The highlights of CBD are the Public Market, Municipal Hall, Public Auditorium and the line of commercial establishments where commodity trading stations, wholesale and retail variety stores, banks and service shops are found.

 

Of the total registered business, 97% or 788 are classified as micro enterprises, 2% or 19 are small enterprise and the rest are medium enterprise. Of these, 113 are new businesses and are 615 businesses renewals. The declared gross sales in 2022 of registered establishments was P 753,979,761. The declared capitalization of new registered business establishments was P 18,371,055. There were 2,379 individuals employed in businesses in 2016. The average annual growth of number of registered business is 9.63% from 2020 to 2022.

 

Irosin’s existing tourism attraction are the natural springs resorts, the hilltop church, viewing decks, parks, lakes and waterfalls. There are 12 resorts and seven hotel/lodging houses in Irosin with a total 150 bed capacity. Most resorts are clustered in the Monbon-Bagsangan area with the San Benon Hot and Cold Springs Resort being the most popular with swimming pools of varying water temperature. Facilities inside the resorts includes room accommodation, canteen, picnic huts, cottages, toilets, dress/change rooms, pools and vehicular parking.

Figure 1. Tourism and Parks Map

Other significant tourist attraction includes 

  • the hilltop church offering a commanding view of urban area, 
  • the Valley View Park with view decks facing Irosin valley and Bulusan Volcano, 
  • the Irosin Lake in Patag, and 
  • the Eco-Zoo Park featuring children’s playground and mini-zoo. 
  • The Naglahaw Falls and Malungoylungoy Falls are destinations for adventure tourism.

 

Local tourists are the main clientele of Irosin’s tourism sites with peak of arrival during weekends, holidays, Lenten and Christmas season. Irosin documented 345,223 tourist arrivals in 2022.  The common cultural activities in the municipality are the annual santacruzan, Lenten season, barangay fiestas, and the town fiesta where Paray Festival is showcased. The Paray Festival in September culminates with the street play Viva San Miguel, celebrated in honor of Saint Michael Archangel, the patron saint of Irosin.

The identified issues/concerns of the trade, industry and tourism sub-sector are:

  • Lack of support services and lack of facilities for development of MSMEs
  • Absence of permanent Negosyo Center and souvenir shops
  • 9% of unemployment rate (Region V, 2021)
  • Only 10 tourism establishments are DOT-accredited
  • Lack of packaged tourism products and services
  • Lack of facilities in LGU operated tourism sites
  • Poor condition of access roads leading to tourism destination
  • Absence of convention center
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