The agriculture sector grew 1.44 percent in the first semester of the year grossing at P697.2 billion at current prices, the Department of Agriculture (DA) announced yesterday. Growth in the first half of the year was faster than the growth of 0.99 percent in the first semester of 2012, a revision from the earlier pronouncement of a growth rate of 0.93 percent. Growth for the period was driven by gains in the fisheries, poultry, livestock and palay subsectors. In the first semester of the year, BAS said the fisheries sector, which comprised 18.10 percent of the total farm output for the period, posted a 4.44 percent growth against a negative growth of 3.17 percent during the first semester of 2012.

Valencia, C. (2013, August 8). Agri sector grows 1.44%. The Philippine Star, p. B6.