Aklan’s total quantity of domestic trade transactions increased by 84 percent in 2017 based on the record of Philippine Statistics Authority Aklan.

Trade transactions in the province last year reached 31,623 metric tons (MT), up by 14,392 MT compared to 2016’s17, 231 MT.

Transaction through water shared the largest volume with 31,591 MT, while air trade comprised 32 MT.

Likewise, the total value of commodities hit P548.9 million, slid by 17 percent compared to P660.5 million in 2016.

Transaction was highest in the third and second quarter of 2017 with 9,829 MT, and 9,481 MT, respectively.

On the other hand, the value of transaction was noted highest in the second quarter with P361.5 million, and third quarter with P74.7 million.

Cargoes which were transported include among others passenger buses, 6 to 10 wheeler trucks, motorcycles, SUVs, AUVs, heavy equipment vehicle, scrap materials, fish (fresh and dry) and other marine products, abaca, charcoal, household appliances, furniture, copra, rice and other food items, live animals and other domestic products.

Meanwhile, outbound passengers from Aklan up by almost five times from 198,418 persons to 942,704 persons in 2017.

Passengers going out of the province was highest in May with 165,202 persons, followed by April with 131,786, and January with 91,663.

According to Provincial Statistics Officer Antonet Catubuan, the domestic trade statistics were compiled from copies of coasting manifests and coastwise passenger manifest collected from Philippine Ports Authority and copies of airway bills from Philippine Airlines.

Catubuan said that data on the inflow and outflow of commodities are used as basis in the formulation and implementation of programs like countryside development and port planning./WDJ