CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – The Region 10 office of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) has cited Northern Mindanao’s good economic performance for the first quarter of this year in the fields of export and energy sales despite the power crisis that hit the region due to the prolonged dry spell season.

In his report, Engr. Cecilio Clarete, NEDA-10 Economic Development Section chief, said the region’s exports showed signs of recovery with figures amounting to $199.18 million an increase of 115.64 percent from last year’s.

Energy sales totalled 562 million kilowatt-hours (kwh), an increase of 19.10 percent from the 472 million kwh energy sales posted in the same quarter of 2009.

Clarete said the energy sales increase is due to the demand-driven consumption by consumers.

Based on the report on exports, Misamis Oriental remains as the region’s top dollar earner, contributing more than half of the region’s exports. It was followed by Lanao del Norte with 30.93 percent and Misamis Occidental with 7 percent.

Misamis Occidental posted the highest growth rate at 313.04 percent brought about by the resumption of operation of two oil mills in the province, namely, Ozamco and Third Millennium Oil Mill, which generated a total of $13.93 million.

On energy sales, more power consumption was due to increases in the energy sales in the provinces of Lanao del Norte (34.59 percent) and Misamis Oriental (17.86 percent), while the provinces of Bukidnon, Camiguin and Misamis Occidental also recorded increases in actual energy sales by 5.30 percent, 4.60 percent and 2.11 percent, respectively.