FALSE

Central Visayas, not CALABARZON, recorded the highest economic growth rate in 2023 according to the latest available official data, contrary to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s claim that CALABARZON had the “best economic performance.” 

While CALABARZON or Region IV-A is a major contributor to the national economy, data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows its performance has lagged behind several other regions since 2022 when measured by standard economic indicators such as growth rate.

In his speech during the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas campaign rally in Trece Martires, Cavite on March 21, Marcos said at the 20:16 mark:

Alam niyo ba po na ang CALABARZON, ang CALABARZON, ang IV-A, ang Region IV-A, ang pinakamaganda ang economic performance ng Region IV-A (Did you know that CALABARZON… Region IV-A has the best economic performance)?

However, PSA’s 2023 Regional Accounts released in April 2024 show otherwise.  CALABARZON posted a 5.2% growth rate in 2023, placing it 10th out of 17 regions and below the national average of 5.5%. Its growth rate was lower than the 7.8% it recorded in 2022. 

In comparison, Central Visayas (Region VII) led all regions in 2023 with a 7.3% growth rate, followed closely by Western Visayas (7.2%) and Ilocos Region (7.1%).

CALABARZON led regional economies in 2021 with a 7.6% growth rate, rebounding from a 10.5% contraction the year before, driven largely by an 11% surge in manufacturing.

But it was overtaken in 2022 by Western Visayas, whose economy grew 9.3%, and five other regions.

Read the full story on FactRakers.org.

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FactRakers is a Philippines-based fact-checking initiative of journalism majors at the University of the Philippines-Diliman working under the supervision of Associate Professor Yvonne T. Chua of the University of the Philippines’ Journalism Department. Associate Professor Ma. Diosa Labiste, also of the Journalism Department, serves as editorial consultant.

FactRakers' fact-checks also include those produced by Tinig ng Plaridel — the official student publication of the UP College of Media and Communication — and the UP Journalism Club.

The name of the initiative, coined from the words “fact” and “raker,” is inspired by the term “muckrakers,” first used in the early 1900s by American president Theodore Roosevelt to express his annoyance at progressive, reform-minded journalists at the time.

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