The study attempted to measure the impact of infrastructure support – specifically, road and irrigation -
on the technical efficiency of rice production in Mindanao using pooled time-series and cross-section
data from 1991 to 2005. The study made use of the estimates of Pate (2006) on the technical efficiency of
rice production using stochastic frontier approach with a balanced panel data of 15 regions in the
Philippines from period 1991-2002. Secondary data on irrigation from the National Irrigation
Administration and on road from the Department of Public Works and Highways were used for the
analysis. Results showed that Mindanao has a comparative disadvantage in rice production as reflected
in the costs and returns of rice production among Mindanao regions. Such comparative disadvantage
was traced from the sluggish pace of road and irrigation development. Thus, it is recommended that the
Department of Public Works and Highways must prioritize the pavement of roads given their crucial role
in improving technical efficiency of rice production in Mindanao. It is also recommended that the
Department of Agriculture, through the National Irrigation Administration, must fast-track the
construction of additional small-scale irrigation systems to allow farmers a greater degree of control
over their irrigation water.
