Capitol in full support of investment promotions

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Provincial Chief of Staff Rosve Henson assured city and municipal investment promotions officers in Pampanga last week of the provincial government’s full support to their activities as he enjoined them to actively work together and participate in the promotion of the province as an investment haven.

This developed during the first ever briefing among city and municipal promotions officers throughout the province jointly sponsored by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - Pampanga and the Pampanga Investment Promotion Office (PIPO) at the Benigno Aquino Memorial Hall at the Capitol compound in the City of San Fernando.

Henson assured that the provincial government led by Governor Lilia G. Pineda will give priority focus to the implementation of programs and projects which will propel Pampanga’s investment and economic growth.

He mentioned that the construction and development of vital road links such as the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) are major contributory factors in the economic development of the province.

He added that the on-going construction of the flood mitigation project which would solve the perennial flooding problem in low-lying areas of the province would also help in creating a favorable business climate in Pampanga.

“These infrastructure development coupled with the implementation of a no-nonsense peace and order campaign recently embarked on by the provincial Philippine National Police (PNP) leadership are sure factors which would attract investors, both local and foreign, in our province.”

Stressing the important role they play in the promotion of the province as an investment haven, Henson also called on the investment promotions officers to formulate and implement necessary plans and programs in their respective municipalities and cities which would attract investors.

The chief of staff also hoped that the investment and promotions officers shall serve as catalysts in making Pampanga as an attractive haven to investors as he acknowledged that the “province cannot do it alone and needs their help and cooperation”.

Lydia Rivera, head of DTI-Pampanga business development division, said that the briefing sought to further harmonize investment-related efforts and forge a strong network and linkages between and among the investment and promotions frontliners in the province.

She also briefed the participants on their specific roles and responsibilities as investment and promotions officers of their respective local government units.

Rivera explained that the province will adopt four specific strategies to further increase the P79.2 billion investments and 35,363 jobs generated in 2009.

“We will ensure that programs and projects will be successfully implemented by way of employing strategies such as enabling business and investment environment, promotion and solicitation, investors servicing as well as data bank and knowledge management.”

She added that the province will continue to pursue the implementation of streamlining business process of critical government frontline service in the issuance of mayor’s permit, identification and promotion of investment priority areas, dispensation of incentive program and continuous dialogue with investors among others.

Rommel Pineda, PIPO head, assured the investment promotions officers that his office will design an appropriate training program for them to better understand and appreciate their roles and functions as partners in the promotion of the province as an ideal investment destination.

He emphasized that “cooperation and complementation of efforts between and among municipalities rather than competition be the motto of key players in investment promotion-related activities.”