THE Philippine Statistics Authority-Mimaropa discusses the region’s economy during a press conference in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro on April 23. (Jerry Alcayde)
CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – The multi-million flood control scandal that put this province in the spotlight last year was one of the factors that triggered a .2 percent decline in the Mimaropa (Oriental Mindoro, Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, and Palawan) region’s Gross Domestic Regional Product from 4.4 percent in 2024 to 4.2 percent in 2025.
This was confirmed by Leni Rioflorido, director of the Philippine Statistics Authority-Mimaropa, during a press conference here on Thursday, April 23.
Rioflorido specifically cited the -2.4 percent growth rate of the construction industry for 2024 to 2025 while mining and quarrying, two economic activities that compliment it, stood at the bottom at -11.4.
In November 2025, the Sandiganbayan started the trial of 16 accused in the graft and malversation charges for the P289-million flood control project in Barangay Tagumpay, Naujan, Oriental Mindoro.
As early as last October, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) suspended all road reblocking activities nationwide, particularly in Mimaropa, due to allegations of corruption.
The DPWH order practically froze all public works, leaving many construction workers unemployed and supplies unavailable which should have been reflected in PSA survey for the last three years.
Rioflorido said Mimaropa’s economy was estimated at P447.47 billion in 2025 with public administration and defense and compulsory social security topping the list of industries with fastest growth rate at 10.4 percent followed by agriculture, forestry and fishing (AFF), 8.3 percent, and human health and social work, 8.2 percent.
The AFF rebounded from a 5.4 percent decline in 2024 to 8.3 percent, the third fastest growth in AFF among the country’s 18 regions.
The country posted a 4.4 percent growth rate with Region 6 as the region with the biggest growth rate.