Provincial Statistics Officer Engr. Ariel Fortuito (2nd from right) of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) during the data dissemination forum on Dec. 2 in Dumaguete City. (Contributed photo) DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Dec. 6 (PIA) -- Negros Oriental’s gross domestic product (GDP) has increased by 6.3% from P146.2 billion in 2018 to P155.9 billion in 2019, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) here announced on Dec 3. However, PSA Provincial Head Engr. Ariel Fortuito said the provincial GDP declined by 5.6% to P147.3 billion in 2020 in an attempt to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The top industries that share the total provincial economy include wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles with an average share of 26.8%, agriculture, forestry, and fishing with 14.9%, and real estate and ownership of dwellings with 8.8% from 2018 to 2020. Fortuito said despite the decline in the overall economic performance of the province in 2020, the follo...