Results of the 2012 Local Governance Performance Monitoring System (LGPMS) for the PALMA+PB Areas (Pigcawayan, Aleosan, Libungan, Midsayap, Alamada, Pikit & Banisilan) in North Cotabato have shown the need for strengthening in the service/performance areas of local revenue generation, entrepreneurship, business and industry promotion and environmental governance. Likewise, the results of the 2013 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index also indicated the need for enhancement of the economic dynamism of the PALMA+PB areas. In line with this, the RESOURCEGov Project, funded by the European Union and implemented by Mahintana Foundation, Inc. , facilitated the Investment/Donors’ Forum: Linking Investment Opportunities for Local Economic Development in PALMA+PB Areas on November 13, 2014 at ACE Resto, Midsayap, Cotabato attended by a total of 76 participants including key representatives of the LGUs of PALMA+PB, PLGU of North Cotabato, National Line Agencies, business sector/chamber of commerce, donors/investors, CSOs and the media. The forum aims to link investment opportunities to help improve the local investment climate/local economic condition of LGUs in PALMA+PB areas. Specifically, the forum seeks: (a) To inform the stakeholders in PALMA+PB areas on the current state and economic, market and environmental opportunities in PALMA+PB areas; (b) To facilitate sharing of experiences, discussion and initial commitments for business/investment matching of priority programs of donors/investors and LGU/community needs; and (c) To gather perspectives on how the economic, market and environmental initiatives/opportunities can be accessed in PALMA+PB areas.
Ms. Vanessa Claire T. Plena- Trade Specialist from DTI-XII presented the investment opportunities in the province and how the PALMA PB areas could explore the product market
The project invited representatives from national government agencies , development aid organizations and economic players who served as resource persons with the following topics: Ms. Vanessa Claire Pleña, Trade and Industry Specialist from Department of Trade and Industry XII –Supply Management thru Investments for Large Enterprises (SMILE) Program of DTI , Mr. Garibaldi Alvin Enriquez, Regional Manager of the Philippine Business for Social Progress- Inclusive Agri-Business of PBSP , Mr. Ricardo Torres Jr., Program Manager of the Peace and Equity Foundation- PEF Framework in making investments as well as the background about the Mindanao Partnership Project for Peace, Mr. Armand Pacudan, Regional Manager of the Foundation for the Philippine Environment- CARRESI (Constituency Building, Advocacy, Research, Resource Mobilization, Environmental defense, Sites and Institutional building) strategy , Mr. Dante Dalabahan, representative of Oxfam International- Philippines- BINDS (Building Resilient and Adaptive Communities and Institutions) project and Mr. Roderick Valones, Program Manager of Lutheran World Relief- Philippines- Emergency Response and Development Programs of LWR in the Philippines , Mr. Elvis Dy, Senior Manager for Plantation Development of Dole Philippines, Inc.- Major Areas of Pineapple Operations in Mindanao; Benefits of engaging in pineapple growership, Dolefil’s CSR programs and plans for expansion in some identified areas Alamada; and Engr. Fred Fredeluces of Green Tropics Coffee Enterprise- Civet Coffee Value Chain from production to processing; marketing opportunities and benefits of coffee growing.
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