DAVAO CITY – At least two Mindanao regions showed signs of resiliency as they posted growth rates surpassing the national average last year, the Mindanao Economic Development Council (MEDCo) said Wednesday.

Despite the global economic slump that marred the growth of most of the country’s regional economies last year, Northern Mindanao and SOCCSKSARGEN (South Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and General Santos City) were among the fastest growing regional economies in the country, posting gross regional domestic product (GRDP) growth above the national percentage of 3.8 percent, recent data from the National Statistics Coordination Board (NSCB) shows.

Northern Mindanao topped the list of growing economies with a GRDP growth of 5.3 percent in 2008 – the highest among all regions during the period.

The region is composed of the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Misamis Occidental, Lanao del Norte, Bukidnon, Camiguin, as well as chartered and component cities of Cagayan de Oro City, Iligan, Oroquieta, Tangub, Ozamiz, Gingoog, Malaybalay and Valencia.

Ranking third in the entire country is SOCCSKSARGEN (Region 12) which registered a 4.6 percent growth.

The region is composed of North Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani provinces including General Santos City and Cotabato City.

The other top growing regional economies last year according to NSCB are the National Capital Region or NCR (ranks 2nd) with 4.9 percent growth rate, Western Visayas (4th) with 4.4 percent and Bicol (5th) with 4.3 percent.

As most of the regional economies slowed down, year-on-year data, however, showed a sluggish performance for Mindanao as its overall GRDP fell from seven to four percent growth rate from 2007 to 2008.

However, the island-region maintained its 17.7 percent contribution to the national economy as it did in 2007, the bulk of which comes from Northern Mindanao. Northern Mindanao’s share to the national economy slightly increased from 4.9 percent in 2007 to 5.0 percent in 2008.