The Real Measure of Tacloban’s Economy

Posted on Mar. 1, 2026 at 3:57 pm

Whispers have recently circulated that businesses are fleeing Tacloban City, suggesting economic stagnation of a city in decline. But Mayor Alfred Romualdez pushed back against these claims, citing city records. Approximately 900 new businesses have registered, while around 50, by his count, have closed, suggesting net growth, not decline. Yet the narrative of “businesses leaving” persists.

Mayor Romualdez said he encourages investors to enter the Tacloban market to generate employment and foster healthy competition, resulting in more choices for consumers, stabilized prices, and a check against practices like hoarding that previously plagued the city.

When a new player enters, an older establishment may struggle or close. That is not economic failure; it is market dynamics at work. The opening and closing of enterprises is a normal part of economic activity, driving innovation and efficiency. While there are businesses closing or workers displaced by competition, public policy must be guided by aggregate trends, verified data, and honest assessment.

A real measure of Tacloban’s economic health is recorded by the Philippine Statistics Authority, showing the numbers that mark the city as a regional economic hub. In October 2025, PSA Region 8 reported Tacloban City’s economy grew by 8.2% in 2024, significantly faster than the 6.8% recorded in 2023. The city’s estimated gross domestic product reached P59.58 billion last year.

Misleading narratives risk undermining investor confidence, demoralizing local entrepreneurs, and obscuring the very real progress being made. Worse, we distract from genuine problems that require actual solutions.

Tacloban has come far since the dark days of 2013. Its recovery from Typhoon Yolanda was nothing short of remarkable, a testament to the resilience of its people and the effectiveness of public and private sector cooperation. To suggest that recovery has stalled ignores the evidence visible to anyone willing to look: the new buildings, the busy streets, the steady registration of new enterprises.

Economies are not static. They breathe, shift, and evolve. Businesses open; businesses close. What matters is the direction of the overall trajectory. For Tacloban, that trajectory remains upward. Mayor Romualdez defends the city’s record because the facts warrant it. Tacloban is not perfect. No city is. But its growth story is real, its momentum measurable, and its future worth investing in.

An syudad han Tacloban naniningkamot nga umuswag.