Tuesday, February 27, 2007 Biz group set to hold infra, economic briefing By Albert B. Lacanlale
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- The Pampanga Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (PamCham) will conduct Tuesday the group's 14th General Membership Meeting at the Grand Palazzo Royale in Angeles City.
PamCham president Rene Romero said the meeting will also be the first part of the business organization's Infrastructure-Social-Economic Briefing, which will be attended by officials from the regional offices of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the National Economic and Development Authority (Neda).
Romero said the briefing is in light with the current positive developments in Central Luzon, specifically the implementation of infrastructure projects like the North Luzon Railways System (NorthRail), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) and the recent declaration of Clark as a free port zone.
"Given these propitious events, which gave tremendous boost to the economic outlook of the province of Pampanga, Kapampangan businessmen must be uploaded with accurate and precise data to guide them in their decisions on possible avenues for investments," he said.
He said there is a need for a realignment of perspective and priorities among the stakeholders in Pampanga, adding that "an effective and responsive socio-economic program must be designed to complement these mega-infrastructure projects in order to fully realize the economic potentials of these opportune developments in our region."
The group's infra-socio-economic briefing will start at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
The briefing, Romero said, will be facilitated by Neda Regional Director Remigio Mercado and DTI Regional Director Blesila Lantayona.
"It is intended to guide and upload businessmen with pertinent facts in relation to the impact of these infra projects on business and investments in the region, particularly in Pampanga," Romero said.
PamCham is hoping for the participation of the local government units (LGUs) in the briefing to realize a leveling off and re-alignment of expectations for the public sector and the identification of investment opportunities for the private sector.
"We are conducting this in order for the private and the public sector to come together and forge an alliance, so to speak, and be able to realize the full potentials and benefit most from these developments that is anticipated to catapult Pampanga as a logistics hub and growth center within the Luzon Urban Beltway," Romero said.
