Aklan Is Ripe For Investment by Megs S. Lunn

“Aklan is ripe for investment,” Gov. Marquez said during a consultative meeting with the different economic stakeholders of Aklan. 

A Consultative Meeting on Investment cum Market Encounter was held on February 28, 2013 at the Gov. Corazon Cabagnot Tourism & Training Center, Old Buswang, Kalibo, Aklan. It was attended by sector representatives from Foods, Agri-Aqua Culture, Tourism, SME’s , Government and private stakeholders. 

According to Engr. Diosdado P. Cadena, Jr., “We are now looking forward to reinforce our single proprietorship investors a faster and easiest way to process their business permit through the Philippine Business Registry which includes the automatic connection with the BIR, Philhealth, Pag-Ibig, SSS and DTI. The only struggle is when the applications reach LGU to get the real permit. Their dilemma starts there which is beyond our control.”

The forum is in preparation to the April 26, 2013 investment conference: Aklan i-con 2013 to be held in Aklan, simultaneous with the celebration of the Aklan Day. This time, a market encounter will be reversed where the buyers will tell the prospective supplier of their specific need. 

“The development and market in Boracay should be shared and felt by its neighboring municipalities, not just in Malay,” Cadena added. “Boracay hotel owners are willing to buy the supplies so long as the volume required can be provided by the local producers,” added.

Gov. Marquez expressed his gratitude to the investors and to the Aklan businessmen who made his term a success, particularly on his twin-project - Agri-Tourism that made a significant increase in trade and tourism. “We failed to modernize Agriculture in the past. There is about 60 percent of the population that depend on Agriculture, and we failed to provide employment and investment opportunity to our farmers,” said Marquez. 

The forum was facilitated by USEC Merly M. Cruz, DTI-RODG who gave the rationale of the conference. She presented the Investment Conference cum Market Encounter Project and Priority Investment Areas in Aklan, Engr. Roger Esto, Provincial Planning & Dev’t Officer presented the Pook Ecological Tourism Dev’t Project, and the Retirement Housing Project. The Abaca Fiber & Crafts was discussed by RD Cynthia Nierras, DTI-Region 8, Agri-Aqua Processed Food (Pangasius) by ARD Dorecita T. De Lima, DTI Region 12, Gifts, Housewares & Furnishings by Engr. Frank Bonoan of Cottage Industry Technical Center (CITC) and E-Bamboo combined with nito, wood and metal by RD Blesila A. Lantayona, DTI Region 3.

 An open forum and interaction followed where sharing of ideas and experience from investors and stakeholders were welcomed. The forum aimed to address the problems of local stakeholders as to the demand of Boracay. So that investors in the island will get their supplies locally. /MP