BUTUAN CITY – Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane Jr. highlighted the economic gains of the province during his State of the Province Address (SOPA) on Friday.

The province saw a significant 25-percent increase in business registrations in 2024, totaling 15,394 businesses, primarily driven by micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.

The past year also witnessed a rise of PHP34.4 million in local revenue collections, predominantly from business taxes and permits, contributing to a total capitalization of P1.2 billion.

“All of our 13 municipalities and one city were declared first-class local government units in 2024. This is a testament to our progress,” Cane said.

The governor reiterated the provincial government’s continued focus on agriculture and its efforts to protect soil quality to enhance production.

Through its anti-poverty program, Upland Sustainable Agri-Forestry Development (USAD), thousands of farmers experienced significant gains in production and income.

The provincial government invested P272 million in funding for the USAD program last year, strategically focused on five key high-value crops: calamansi, abaca, cacao, falcata, and rubber.

As of last year, 6,423 farmers from 150 villages, covering some 8,600 farmlands, were enrolled in the USAD program.

“There are 73.2 percent farmer-enrollees of the USAD program who now enjoy higher income, 84.2 percent of household members have jobs and 73.0 percent can support their children's education from elementary to college,” Cane reported.

The USAD program also funded two Level 2 water systems across 33 villages, paved 14 kilometers of provincial roads, established two daycare centers in two barangays, and allocated P15 million to support a convergence program.

AGUSAN PIO PHOTO