Agriculture and tourism continue to be the major economic drivers of La Union, with the province remaining self-sufficient in rice production and the tourism sector generating P1 billion in receipts in 2025, Gov. Mario Eduardo Ortega said during his State of the Province Address on Wednesday.
Records of the provincial agriculture office showed that La Union produced 197,295 metric tons of rice from some 38,363 hectares of farmlands.
Ortega said to sustain agricultural production, the provincial government distributes farm inputs like fertilizer and pesticide to 20,000 farmers, as well as provides mechanization assistance worth P27 million.
The provincial government, he said, is planning to improve tobacco production focusing on the quality of the plant, ‘as what is important now is not the volume of production, but the quality.’
On tourism, Ortega said more than 500,000 visitors arrived in the province in 2025, with the sector generating over a billion pesos in receipts for hotels, resorts, restaurants and other service providers.
San Juan town, known as the surfing capital of the northern Philippines, led the province’s tourist arrivals at 184,762 visitors, followed by the capital San Fernando City (134,181) and Bauang town (81,146).
‘Complementing this growth were strategic initiatives, such as the Ridge to Reef Program and the Hawaii-Philippines trade mission, which further promoted the province as a premier tourism and investment destination,’ Ortega said.
To sustain its competitive advantage in tourism, La Union strengthened watershed protection and sustainable resource management of the 19,407-ha Baroro watershed and river system.
Strategic initiatives
‘Continued programs and investments in health care, education, social welfare, infrastructure, and environmental protection also helped improve public service delivery and expand access to essential services, he said.
Emphasizing that health is his administration’s top priority, Ortega cited upgraded facilities in the province’s five district hospitals and the La Union Medical Center that enabled more than 190,000 patients to receive inpatient and outpatient care.
He announced major public investments that are expected to shape La Union’s next phase of development, including the modernization of district hospitals, the construction of the La Union Health Hub, the San Fernando International Seaport, and the extension of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway.
Ortega said that while ‘strategic investments will pave the way for the province’s future, lasting progress will be sustained by the unity and collective efforts of every La Union resident.’