The provincial capitol of Negros Occidental. (File photo)
BACOLOD CITY -- The Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI) has expressed high hopes for further growth of the rural areas in Negros Occidental under the new provincial leadership.
“We are bullish with the new set of provincial officials,” Frank Carbon, chief executive officer of MBCCI, said on Thursday.
Governor Alfredo Marañon Jr., whose third and final term ends on June 30, will be succeeded by Vice Governor Jose Eugenio Lacson.
Lacson earlier said he will work with outgoing 3rd District Rep. Alfredo Benitez as his consultant on economic development in a bid to push for more infrastructure projects outside Bacolod City and bring in more investors to the province.
Carbon welcomed the incoming governor’s thinking on business and investment since this is what Negros Occidental needs.
“We expect that incoming governor Lacson will sustain the gains initiated by the outgoing governor, particularly those geared towards inclusive growth,” he added.
The MBCCI, which consists of at least 150 member-companies and more than 20 business associations in Negros Occidental, has been pushing for bringing in investment to the agricultural areas, including fishery, in the province.
The MBCCI has recognized that since private investments are poured in urban areas, it should be compensated by public investments of national government agencies and local government units among rural areas.
While it is helping prepare local startups and their products through seminars, training, and trade events, the government should also work on bringing investments and developments such as infrastructure to the countryside, the business chamber said.
“We keep on thinking about export while there are still opportunities locally, including here in Negros Occidental.
We are thinking of developing our home, resources, and domestic market for us to become stable before thinking of other countries,” Carbon added. (PNA)
