A HIGH-RANKING government official said a boom in the construction industry is needed for Eastern Mindanao to further develop its economy.
Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Secretary Leo Tereso Magno said with the direction Mindanao is going in its development, there is a need to improve and catch up with the infrastructure needs of the island.
“In any developing country, for that matter, trying to recover from the pandemic, isang senyales o isang dapat makita ay ang pag-boom ulit ng [one sign of improvement is a visible improvement in] construction industry,” Magno said in an ambush interview on May 11.
“Ibig sabihin (That means) there's confidence again from the private sector in investing in different types of industries... pag sinabi mong mag-i-invest ka sa isang bagay [like construction industry], ibig sabihin may component yan ng pag-construct o paggawa ng infrastructures (When you say you would want to invest in an industry, you’ll need components or materials to construct these types of infrastructure),” Magno added.
In a speech during the Philippine Building and Construction Expo (Philbex) and Travel and Leisure Expo (TLex) opening ceremonies in SMX Convention Center, SM Lanang Premier on May 11, Magno said Mindanao is always known for its pristine beaches, falls, caves, mountains, and other tourist destinations.
However, Magno said what Eastern Mindanao region needs improvement on is the needed infrastructure, not just for housing tourists and creating potential tourist attractions, but also for “facilitation of storage and transport of products” to other parts in and out of the country.
“So I see the importance and opportunity for us in the government to work hand in hand with you [construction industry] and the private sector are bringing tourists in Mindanao and construction and infrastructure that would benefit not only for our businesses but also to the livelihood and economy in this part of the country,” Magno said.
Magno said to achieve this progress in the construction sector, the government is always ready to work with the private sector and the local government units (LGUs).
“Hindi kasi nasa isang tao o isang grupo ang pwedeng gagawa ng ganyan, dapat may kooperasyon kasama na rin ang LGU (Because no individual or a group can do it all, there must be cooperation with the LGU as well),” Magno said.