Manufacturing, Services & Labor Force

The complex distribution of soils and landforms in the province supports a wide variety of agricultural crops but requires a range of diverse agricultural management practices. For instance, upland cultivation in Bondoc Peninsula is demanding more farm inputs because the soils are highly leached whereas the high land of north Quezon which is relatively fertile uses minimal inputs. The Bondoc plateaus are most suited to large animal farming while District IV grows best fruit trees. Irrigated temporary crops are mostly found in District I and District IV while the irrigated areas grown permanent crops are found in District I and part of District II, However, in general, the cropping pattern is coconut-based for all rain fed areas while the rice-corn-vegetable combine semi-irrigated and irrigated areas.

Table 9: Crop Production 2001

SOURCE: Statwatch 2001- National Statistical Coordinating Board

The intercrops like rice, corn, fruit trees and vegetables are included in the calculation of coconut-based farms. Paddy rice production is very limited in District III and District IV while in District II, paddy rice hectarage is slightly higher than the coconut-based farming system. Data for kaingin is available only for District I.

Table 10: Locational Hectarage of Major Crops

SOURCE: Provincial Agriculture Office

Nearly half of the total coconut-based farms are located in District IV while District I and District II have almost the same coconut-based farming hectarages. The phenomenon in District II is basically due to the rapid urbanization and the limited upland cultivation.

The agricultural lands located in these zones are classified as those that are (1) highly restricted from conversion, (2) moderately restricted from conversion and (3) conditionally restricted from conversion.

Table 11: Hectarage of Protected Agricultural Areas

SOURCE: BSWM, Map of Protected Areas for Agriculture

Over-all, rice production in the province is low by national standards. The 80 cavans per hectare yield average is 20% lower than the national average for irrigated areas while the 35 cavans per hectare production for rain fed areas is 33% lower. The yields have almost remained the same for nearly decades suggesting that agricultural practices have not substantially changed. Most of the rice farmer-respondents use sparingly a minimum level of chemical fertilization and pesticides and only when these are needed.

The province has very limited area for the expansion of rice plantation. The flat lands which are suitable for the crop are mostly concentrated in District II where the rate of population increase is also the biggest. The situation seems to imply that for the province to cope with the demands of the growing population, rice culture must be intensified per unit area. However, the environmental costs must be inputted in that production-consumption scale. Based on Statwatch 2001 of the National Statistics Coordinating Board, palay production of the province has a total of 43,347 metric tons for that year in review.

The bias towards communal irrigation system is consistent with the types and capacities of the river systems the province possess. About 12,212 hectares or 44.69% of the total serviceable area still need irrigation facilities. In the Irrigation Development Program of the National Irrigation Authority (1996-2000), 9,932 hectares were earmarked to be irrigated until the end of 2000. This should leave another 5,292 hectares which must be irrigated starting 2001.

Table 12: Types of Irrigation System in the Province

SOURCE: National Irrigation Administration

In the vegetable-suitable highlands of the province, farmers seem to be conservative in engaging with the riskier vegetable production. It was observed that there is negligible commercial vegetable-farming in Quezon.

Fruits which posted a total production worth P204,170,599.00 were grown in an estimated area of 597,370 hectares. Vegetables generated production equivalent to P17,030,247.00 utilizing 1,306 hectares. For root crops, an area of 114,367 has produced P40,714,641.00 worth of produce. In many cases, the area mentioned as fruit and vegetable areas are under coconut groves.

In summary, the most dominant crop is coconut which covers about 307,349 hectares and is worth P1,400,000,000.00. This makes the province one of the principal procedures of copra. Rice which covers 22,860 hectares of irrigated rice lands 15,174 hectares serviceable area and 8,465 hectares of rainfed lands is worth P197,000,000.00 per year. Corn which covers 4,687 hectares is worth P37,000,000.00 per year.

Table 13: Livestock Inventory (Number of Heads)

SOURCE: Environmental Baseline Information of Quezon Province.

Table 13 showed a declining trend in annual inventory for the period 1991-1995, except for carabao, which is considered a draft animal. This was very significant in hogs, goats and ducks. Cattle and chicken growing also seemed to have a very uncertain trend during the period. Given the surplus of corn supply in the province, livestock raising has offered bigger business opportunities for farmers but this would decrease unless the shortage in water supply could be addressed on time.

There are five important coastal and marine resources in the province, which are classified according to their economic uses: mangroves, sea grasses, coral reefs, municipal fisheries, and commercial fisheries.

Aside from fish production, transshipment fish ports and coastal tourism are also key resources users of the province's coastal and marine environment.

The industry sector is composed of mining and quarrying, manufacturing, construction and electricity, gas and water. Except for manufacturing, all these sub-sectors are evidently growing in magnitude but reliable information on their actual distribution, type, value-added and volume of employment generated to date are not available.

Sand and gravel are mined in small scales at various places with a large concentration in the municipalities of Sariaya, Tiaong, Dolores, and Candelaria in District II; Sampaloc, Mauban, Pagbilao, and General Nakar in District I; and Plaridel and Tagkawayan in District IV. In the period 1993-1997, 465 quarry and mining permits were issued with allowable harvesting volume ranging from 1,000 cubic meters to 120,000 cubic meters.

Gold and copper in the province are in non-commercial quantities. This is the general assessment of long-time residents in the area. The favorite basaltic quarries are the river meanders and deposition sites of Mts. Banahaw and San Cristobal. In particular, the municipality of Sariaya accounts for almost 50% of the gravel and sand quarrying of the entire province. Beach sand-quarrying in Mulanay beach-front and others has been reported. Extensive quarrying, has already created craters in the landscape, confined lakelets, rerouting of river or stream channels and other life-threatening impacts. Of the 113 Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECCs) issued, 90 projects or 80% have ECCs for quarrying, and the remainder for oil mill, housing subdivision, poultry and piggery, and ice storage.

Table 13: Mineral Production 1990

SOURCE: Mines and Geosciences Bureau

The number of manufacturing establishments is 2,038 with a total employment of 11,735 persons in 1996 distributed by district as follows:

Table 14: Establishments and Employment, 1999

SOURCE: Strategic Environment Management Plan (SEMP) Quezon Province

The service sector is classified into four types: wholesale and retail trade, public services (hotels, restaurants, resorts, hospital, etc.), and financing, insurance, real estate and business services. Wholesale and retail trade accounted for 59% of total establishments in the sector.

Table 15: Service Sector Establishments 1996

Category Number of
Establishments
Wholesale and Retail Trade 4,656
Public Services 23
Private Services 2,875
Financing, Insurance, Real Estate and Business Services
342
Total 7,896
SOURCE: National Statistics Office

The large number of wholesale and retail trade, and private service establishments indicates that they generate too much of the wastes coming from this sector. Many of them are also known to have no or little provision for any waste disposal system. However, these establishments are projected to increase at a much faster phase than the other types of service sector establishments in the future.

LABOR FORCE AND EMPLOYMENT

For the year 2001, total population 15 years and over is 1,061,000 with a 71.7% labor force participation rate. Employment rate is 95.2% and 4.8% for unemployment rate. There is also the visible underemployment rate of 12.3%.

Table 16: Labor and Employment CY 2001

Total Labor Force (15 years old and over) 1,061,000
In the Labor Force 760,000
Employed 724,000
Unemployed 36,000
Not in the Labor Force 301,000

Labor Force Participation Rate 71.7%
Employment Rate 95.2%
Unemployment Rate 4.8%
Visible Underemployment Rate 12.3%

Employed Person By Type Industry
Total 724,000
Agriculture 287,000
Industry 88,000
Service 349,000

SOURCE: National Statistics Office Quickstat

Figure 2. Employed Persons by Quarter CY 2001

SOURCE: National Statistics Office Quickstat