Palay production in SOCCSKSARGEN Region in the second quarter of 2021 reached at 78,230 metric tons, lower by 10.2 percent compared to the 87,128 metric tons produced in the same period of 2020. Regional palay production decreased by 8,897 metric tons in all types of palay ecosystems during the period.

In 2019, about 71.5 percent of the population aged 3 to 24 years in the Philippines were enrolled or attending school. Among the regions, CARAGA had the highest school attendance at 76.6 percent. This was followed by Region V-Bicol (75.5%) and MIMAROPA (75.2%). SOCCSKSARGEN Region ranked tenth in terms of school attendance at 72.7 percent while the remaining 27.3 percent of the population aged 3 to 24 years were not enrolled.

In 2019, about 64.1 percent of families in the country owned the house and lot they occupied. Among the 17 regions in the country, eight (8) regions had proportion of families who had owner-like possession of house and lot they occupied higher than the national average. These are Region II (91.5%), Region I (85.0%), CAR (80.3%), Region III (78.3%), Region XII (67.3%), Region VII (67.1%), MIMAROPA (66.9%), and Region X (65.1%).

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) For All Items in SOCCSKSARGEN Region in September 2021 was recorded at 135.1 index points. This shows that the average retail price of commodities included in the market basket for all goods and services for the month under review was higher by 35.1 percent higher compared to its prices in its 2012 reference base year. The September 2020 CPI for All Items at 128.2 was lower by 6.9 index points compared to its September 2021 index point.

Export products of SOCCSKSARGEN Region decreased by 0.4 percent from US$87,484,986.00 in February 2020 to US$87,167,715.00 in February 2021. The total volume of export commodities increased from 69,052,672 kilograms in 2020 to 78,180,132 kilograms in the same month of 2021.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) For All Items in SOCCSKSARGEN Region in September 2021 was recorded at 135.1 index points. This shows that the average retail price of commodities included in the market basket for all goods and services for the month under review was higher by 35.1 percent higher compared to its prices in its 2012 reference base year. The September 2020 CPI for All Items at 128.2 was lower by 6.9 index points compared to its September 2021 index point.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) For All Items in SOCCSKSARGEN Region in September 2021 was recorded at 135.1 index points. This shows that the average retail price of commodities included in the market basket for all goods and services for the month under review was higher by 35.1 percent higher compared to its prices in its 2012 reference base year. The September 2020 CPI for All Items at 128.2 was lower by 6.9 index points compared to its September 2021 index point.

The number of registered live births in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region in 2020 reached 72,847, lower by 7.17 percent from 78,477 in 2019. Generally, the registered live births showed decreasing trend from 2016 to 2020 but a little bit swing in 2019. A decrease of 7.69 percent in the registered live births was noted in the past five years, from 78, 919 in 2016 to 72,847 in 2020 ( see Figure 1). The number of registered births with the highest decreased in the province of Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani at about 10.14 percent and 9.37 percent in 2020, respectively (see Table 2). The highest number as registered in 2013 at 80,983.

INDEX POINTS The CPI for All Items in SOCCSKSARGEN Region increased by 135.4 index points in October 2021 from 128.3 index points in September 2021. This average retail price of commodities included in the market basket for all goods and services for the month under review was higher by 35.4 percent compared to its prices in its 2012 reference base year (Figure 1).

Total external trade up SOCCSKSARGEN Region’s total external trade in goods in March 2021 amounted to USD 208.578 million from USD 158.341 million in March 2020 posting a growth of 31.7 percent. Of the total external trade in March 2021, about 63.2 percent were exported goods.