By Liza T. Agoot
BAGUIO CITY – Baguio City’s economy grew 5.6 percent in 2025, driven by strong gains in construction, agriculture, and other industries, while Benguet province posted a 3.3 percent expansion, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) – Cordillera reported.
In its latest report, PSA-Cordillera said Baguio’s gross domestic product (GDP) rose to PHP188.89 billion in 2025 from PHP178.92 billion in 2024.
Construction posted the fastest growth at 16.8 percent, followed by agriculture, forestry, and fishing at 13 percent; human health and social work activities at 12.7 percent; and transportation at 7.5 percent.
Mining and quarrying recorded the slowest growth at 1.6 percent.
The PSA attributed the growth to various industries, including infrastructure spending by the government and private sector.
Baguio accounted for 47.8 percent of the region’s PHP394.96 billion GDP in 2025.
“All industries in Baguio City posted a positive growth, no matter how small, like in mining and quarrying, which is 1.6 percent, and 2.4 percent for financial and insurance activities,” PSA-Cordillera Director Villafe Alibuyug said.
Benguet’s GDP increased to PHP89.8 billion in 2025 from PHP86.93 billion in 2024, although its growth slowed from 5 percent in 2024, when its economy expanded from PHP82.76 billion in 2023.
Human health and social work activities posted the fastest growth in Benguet at 14.4 percent, followed by education at 11.1 percent, and professional and business services at 7.6 percent.
“Benguet also did well, but construction and mining and quarrying posted a negative growth,” Alibuyug said.
The PSA data showed, however, that the value of output in both industries increased despite their negative growth rates, with mining and quarrying valued at PHP203.7 billion from PHP164 billion a year earlier and construction at PHP119.4 billion from PHP117.7 billion.
Alibuyug said per capita GDP was PHP181,886 in Benguet and PHP478,956 in Baguio.
GDP measures the value of goods and services produced in an area and is used by businesses and policymakers in assessing economic performance and investment opportunities, she said.
The GDP computation includes consumer spending, business investments, government spending, and net exports. (PNA)
GROWTH. Construction was Baguio City’s fastest-growing industry in 2025, expanding 16.8 percent and contributing to the city’s PHP188.89 billion gross domestic product, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority – Cordillera. Baguio accounted for 47.8 percent of the region’s PHP394.96 billion GDP in 2025.
