DIGOS CITY, Davao del Sur (PIA) The first Davao del Sur Investment Conference was held in Digos City recently, in partnership with the provincial government and the Department of Trade and Industry-Davao del Sur with the aim to spur the economic development in the area despite the challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and the sustained increases in the prices of petroleum products.
Glen Inas, the investment officer of the province of Davao del Sur shared the vision of the late Governor Douglas Ra. Cagas who saw Davao del Sur rising with investors.
He said it was the late governor’s dream to see the province as investment destination by first making peace and order as its cornerstone and is enjoyed by many people today.
Inas said the recent declaration of the province as insurgent-free area since the last quarter of 2021 and the construction of farm-to-market roads leading to tourism and investment destinations have made investments a priority by the next provincial administration.
“The peace and order and the completion of the farm-to-market roads are the recent efforts realized through the leadership of the late governor and Congressional representative Didi Cagas to boost the investments. Under the leadership of former Governor Marc IV Chan-Cagas, Davao del Sur was awarded as the third most competitive province in the region,” he said.
Engr. Ma. Victoria Placer, provincial director of the Department of Trade and Industry of Davao del Sur projected a brighter prospect for the province following the easing out of the COVID-19 protocols in the region, and the decline of COVID-19 cases.
She said that recently, the national government also acted several measures by providing stimulus to help the economy recover and rebuild through the passage of the corporate recovery on tax incentives for enterprises that reduces income tax rates.
“Former President Rodrigo Duterte approved amendments to the retail trade liberalization act, public service act and the foreign investment act,” Placer noted.
She said that as the country moves towards economic recovery, the province is set for growth enticing more investors to propel its economic growth as it contributes considerably in jobs and income generation.
Placer revealed that despite the economic challenges, Davao del Sur will continue to be investment destination and expansions taking place in Sta. Cruz and Hagonoy.
“Digos City came out in the latest most competitive cities index as the most competitive city in the entire country together with the municipalities of Sulop, Bansalan, Magsaysay, Sta. Cruz and Hagonoy,” she said.
Placer bared that Davao del Sur has the best potential prospects for agri-business, manufacturing, energy, tourism and other services.
She said Davao del Sur aggressively opens up to more investments in facing the new normal head-on.
Governor Yvonne Cagas used the acronym legacy for setting the direction of investments in Davao Del Sur, where L stands for legislative support, E for ease of doing business, G for green and resilient businesses, A for agricultural hotspot, C for the Cagas brand of service and Y for Yvonne Cagas at your service.
She stressed that as far as the province is concerned, its infrastructure, resources, policies and procedures are already in place.
“Investors, I appeal to you, invest in Davao del Sur and make it an investment destination of choice. Together, let us make this happen!” Cagas said.
Retired Major General Reuben Basiao, former commander of the 10th Infantry Division and head security of all the San Miguel Corporation interests in the region who spoke in behalf of Ramon S. Ang, the president of the SMC congratulated the holding of the first investment conference in Davao del Sur.
He underscored the efforts of Ramon Ang in pushing for investments despite the pandemic ranging from the provision of food, alcohol, vaccination, protection of workers, continuation of jobs, road construction and rehabilitation like the Tarlac-Pangasinan Expressway, Skyway Stage III, the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan, the MRT-7 that will commence operation early in 2023, clean-up of the Pasig River and Bulacan to mitigate the flooding and many agro-industrial complexes.
Basiao revealed that Barangay Darong, Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur is home to the San Miguel Brewery which supplies beer to any point in Mindanao while the biggest SMC poultry-farm will be built in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur.
“Davao del Sur makes a big difference in the lives of the residents not only in the province but the whole of Mindanao in the post pandemic due to its ideal weather patterns for agricultural production, vast coastline and ease of doing business and other policies implemented by the provincial government through good governance,” he said. (PIA XI-Davao del Sur-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)