CARMONA, Cavite – Members of the Federation of Cavite local economic and investment promotions officers (FCLEIPOs) now have a clearer picture of their role in the local economic development, the strategies available to them and the support given by the national government following a convention at the town hall here on Wednesday.
Romel Olimpo, president of the Federation of Cavite LEIPO, told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Thursday that the participants convened for a day-long exchange of views, insights and discussions to align functions, tackle issues and set future plans and programs.
Olimpo who is also General Trias City Business, Permits and Licensing officer-in-charge, said the forum, organized in partnership with the Office of the Cavite Governor through its Provincial LEIPO, has facilitated clearer directions for LEIPOs development.
“Mas madali na naming maipaliwanag sa aming Municipal/City Mayors kung bakit importante na magkaroon ng investment incentive code ang bawat local government unit (We can easily explain now to our Municipal/City Mayors the importance of having an investment incentive code in our respective local government unit),” Olimpo said.
Aside from the members of FCLEIPO, other attendees included LEIPOs from the cities of Muntinlupa, Malabon and Valenzuela, Himamaylan in Negros Occidental and Camarines Norte.
Speakers from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Board of Investors (BOI) and Cavite’s Provincial Cooperative, Livelihood and Entrepreneurial Devt. Office (PCLEDO) talked on various economic and investment related topics such as Creating a Business Friendly and Competitive Environment and Local Economic Development.
The forum equipped LEIPOs with the needed know-how on the BOI functions and investment accreditation services, Memorandum of Agreements, Doing Business in the Philippines and Foreign Investments Act of 1991 and the so-called “Negative List.”
Other topics discussed were Doing Business with Incentives, Omnibus Investments Code of 1987, 2017 Investment Priorities Plan and BOI incentives and assistance, wherein this BOI intervention will help LGUs attract new investors located in their respective LGUs.
“In return the LGU will allow BOI to collect the necessary data needed by investors and help in forwarding their concerns to the LGUs,” said Olimpo.
“Maraming participating LGUs ang nag-signify ng interest to enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with BOI para po dun sa investment assistance service (several participating LGUs signified their interest for BOI’s investment assistance service),” Olimpo added.
Wednesday’s forum included an orientation on Local Investments and Incentives Code (LIIC) which guided the participants in drafting the document that articulates the local government investment policies and programs, Investments Priority Areas, local incentives available to domestic and foreign investors and the mechanics in availing them.
Olimpo added that the participating LEIPOs also agreed to lobby in Congress for a permanent designate to the LEIPO post.
“The designated LEIPO will help sustain the programs, unlike now when the functions are merely temporarily managed by someone from the planning or business permits and licensing office divisions,” he said. (PNA)
