Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Director for Nueva Ecija, Bi PIli said the 10-day Local and Regional Economic Development (LRED) summit among business stakeholders commenced on Monday in brief ceremonies led by DTI-Region 3 Dir. Blesila Lantayona, Mayor Amelia Gamilla, members of the sangguniang bayan led by Vice Mayor Arive, as well as trainors from academic and private institutions.
She noted that Bongabon was the first municipality in Central Luzon to conduct the LRED.
Gamilla expressed hope the program will eventually uplift the already upswinging business atmosphere in her town, tagged as the “onion capital of the Philippines.” The SB, she said, had been supporting these projects.
Anji Resurrecion, a business professional trainor, said the LRED starts with identification of the strengths and weaknesses of the LGU in terms of business. In some provinces or municipalities, she said, among the most common problems were securing business documents and infrastructure.
“Sa iba naman walang tubig,” she stressed.
Due to hardship in securing permits, Resurrecion said, some local entrepreneurs preferred to conduct business unlicensed. But because of this, according to her, they fail to avail themselves of loan facilities or other financial support opportunities to improve their respective ventures.
But Pili said one of the greatest assets of this town was its supportive officials and available human resources or manpower.
She believes solutions found in a program participated in by stakeholders themselves will easily be implemented.
“Sila ang nakakita ng problema, sila ang hahanap ng solusyon, kaya mas maipapatupad nila ito,” Pili said.
The DTI, she said, will facilitate the LRED, along with other institutions such as the Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology.
