Wednesday, July 18, 2007 Benguet open for investments, says guv
LOOKING at the possibility of fostering a more desirable climate investment, the Benguet Provincial Government is opening its doors to investors wanting to venture in the area.
Stressing the importance of a good climate investment, Benguet Governor Nestor Fongwan said the province should ensure peace and order, provide assistance in enhancing its major and potential industries and services, and provide an atmosphere that is business friendly.
Fongwan is not referring to incentives such as tax holidays. He said peace and order situation, which should be looked at, is one of the factors investors are considering, capitalizing on the statement of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo at the Mindanao Peace and Security Summit in Cagayan de Oro City when she said that for an area to prosper, "we must invest in peace and order."
Providing assistance in tourism in terms of improving access roads side by side with the Department of Public Works and Highways is also crucial as Fongwan mentioned earlier.
Tourist destinations include Mt. Pulag in Kabayan and Mt. Ugo in Itogon.
The governor is also open to investments in processing center for vegetables as this would add value to the crops and make them globally competitive.
Admittedly, he said this is now the trend, adding that this would redound to the people of the province.
Fongwan saw the need of establishing hotels for accommodations especially in the capital town as well as the establishment of malls, citing the interest of a big company for their expansion in La Trinidad.
On mining, Fongwan said pending the reorganization of a mining board, a committee was created to study pertinent laws and to reconcile existing laws like the Small Scale Mining Law, the Mining Law and the Local Government Code or Republic Act 7160 to have an idea on the functions of the mining board.
He also said mining companies and small scale miners would be invited for the committee to know their problems and their plans.
