Aris to mayors: consolidate

lands for direct investments

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, Nov 12 (PIA)—Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado directed Bohol mayors to start land banking by consolidating tracts of land which they can offer to investors, seeing that with Cebu starting to get congested, the only option for expansion in Bohol.

Build capacities first, because investors shy away if they can’t find lands for their investments to locate, the governor who succeeded in helping LGUS identify Northern Bohol economic and investments zones hinted.

The Special economic and investment zone covers the towns of Clarin, Inabanga, Buenavista, Getafe, Talibon, Ubay and Pitogo, which faces Cebu.

Speaking in front of mayors and local investment promotions officers from the towns during the Bhol Competitiveness Summit at the Bohol Cultural Center November 12, the governor’s directive to mayors was in response to the talk on Foreign Direct Investments as the best thing that could happen to local government units.

With the current problems of congestion and high real estate values in Panglao and Dauis, the governor hinted that the next development would be moving out of Tagbilaran City to Baclayon, Alburquerque, Sikatuna, Corella, Cortes, Balilihan, Maribojoc, Antequera and Loon, where mayors can start facilitating for consolidation of lots which they can offer for investments.

Jose Marie “Joel” Yu, former Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary and former head of the Cebu Investment Promotions Center which is credited for the landing of foreign direct investments (FDI) in semi-conductors and business process management operations which pinned Cebu in the map of international investors seeking better business climates, cheaper employment and operational costs and profits, suggested Bohol to push into tourism and consolidate land resources and make it feasible for specific products for specific consumers.

Yu said Bohol has to look into Foreign Direct Investments that are looking into resource or strategic assets like mining, or efficiency where labor and production cost is minimal, or market seeking, where the consumers in the area assures product sales.

FDI brings capital directly to the LGUS, spurs employment and creates a small business hub served by even more smaller entrepreneurs serving the needs of thousands of workers.

He, however has proposed an inherent effort from local authorities.

“Capability first before opportunity,” Yu stressed, hinting that investors would rather go to a location where there is “ease of doing business, good competent talents, can support cost efficient production and has stable peace and order.”

Aumentado, whose legislated Northern Bohol Economic Zone, which is in close proximity to Mactan Export Processing Zone, has also asked mayors to work first on three things: talent, software in building ease of doing business and hardware which are the infrastructure support like cheap utilities in power and water, consolidated land for a facility or buildings for the investors to come.

At the Competitiveness Summit, the governor said “The goal of making a smart resilient and inclusive province to edge over other provinces improves a bit with more local government units carving niches in recent national search for the most competitiveness local government units.”

The competitiveness is a local set ups of honoring the LGUS which have set lofty positions in competitiveness pillars like innovation, resiliency, infrastructure, government efficiency and economic dynamism as the pillars of creating business-friendly environments where local entrepreneurs can put in new products, and for foreign investors to benefit from a strong Boholano consumer base and high tourism visitor turn-out.

The Competitiveness Summit, an initiative of Capitol’s Bohol Economic Development and Investments Promotions Office, also honored most improved LGUs, over-all most competitive LGUs, and the national awardee LGUS, based on the last year’s National Competitiveness Council’s overall national ranking of LGUS.

At the summit, the governor and the mayors signed their commitments to sustaining the investment through the Bohol Investment Assistance Network integrating into the Central Visayas Investment Assistance Network for a more centralized investment support platform in the region.

Aumentado also led the launching of the BEDIPO produced Economic Factbook 2024, an investor’s guide in locating in Bohol. (RAHC/PIA-7/Bohol)

FDI IS THE WAY TO GO. Former DTI Usec Jose Mari Yu, keynote speaker during the Bohol Competitiveness Summit shared that building wealth by depending on profits and employment pales in comparison to bringing in foreign direct investments, but then, for Bohol, it has to build capability first and opportunities can just come. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

BIBLE FOR INVESTORS. Bohol led by Gov Erico Aristotle Aumentado launched its guide for investors locating in Bohol, a key fact book to keep capitalists informed of the potentials for investments, state of utilities, cost of doing business, ease of starting one and availability of skilled talents, something that could ease up business decisions. (PIABohol)

ONBOARDING BIAN TO CVIAN. For a larger investment assistance support platform, the Bohol Investment Assistance Network (BIA) or municipal and provincial investment assistants hitch into the Central Visayas IAN, allowing Bohol LGI investment promotions to tap for help anytime. Gov Aumentado, along with Bohol Chamber of Commerce and Industry and local investment authorities signed the onboarding pledge of commitment. PIABohol)