The province is blessed with ample mineral resources, rich fishing grounds, fertile agricultural land, vast tourism spots and peace-loving and industrious people. However, in spite of all these potentials for development, the province has been left out from the main stream of development growth occurring in Mindanao.
The quality of life has not changed much. Although family income improved in the past years, the increase is negligible considering the inflation and the ever increasing prices of basic commodities.
Although the population growth rate is planned to a decreasing scenario and production is targeted to meet future demand, economic performance especially in agriculture did not filter down to the improvement in the farm family income.
There was an increase in agricultural production in previous years but was negated by the increasing population growth rate (PGR). Rice production decreased by 42% from 80,610 MT in 1994 to 46,668 MT in 1998 while coconut production posted 32% increase. Livestock increased by 49% but this cannot cope-up with the increase in population.
In the industry and trade scene, the province is confronted with the absence of domestic and foreign markets, inadequacy of appropriate technology and lack of intensive and extensive industrial development promotion campaign to attract investments. Some tourism potentials remain undeveloped due to insufficient government financial support and appropriate promotions. But the province is recognized as one of the eco-tourism destinations in the country and the site for international surfing tilt.
In the social services sector, the inadequate number of classrooms, dilapidated public health buildings, and other facilities threaten efforts to improve education and health. The high rate of malnutrition due to poverty and lack of information on proper nutrition has taken its toll among a great number of pre-school and in-school children.
Infrastructure support is still inadequate. The lack of transportation, farm-to-market roads, ports, warehousing and storage facilities have left the hinterlands of the province far from basic social services. The natural geographical topography of a mainland and numerous groups of islands hinder mobility from one place to another.
Above all, the poverty and inequality problems especially in the rural areas may be traced to the inequality in land distribution and ownership, and biased implementation of government programs and projects.
(Source: The Medium-Term Development Plan of Surigao Del Norte (2001-2005)
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