DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, August 18 (PIA) -- The Provincial Government here is planning to establish an office that will facilitate foreign-assisted projects in the province.

Governor Pryde Henry Teves announced in a press conference at the Capitol on August 17 that he plans to create a Foreign-Assisted Project Office to be manned by consultants who will act as secretariat and coordinate with international agencies for funding of future projects that will be initiated by the provincial government.

“Maggama ko ug foreign-assisted project proposal secretariat dire para kutob sa akong makit-an na naay kwarta ako aplayan (I will create a local secretariat for foreign-assisted project proposal and through them, I will apply for funding from other agencies),” Teves said.

He added that the said office can also provide assistance to Local Government Units (LGUs) with lesser capabilities in terms of formulating foreign-assisted project proposals so they can also vie for funding from foreign offices.

Provincial Public Information Officer Oliver Lemence has announced that the priority projects the governor aims to implement include the shipbuilder’s yard in Bais City, Bacong International Airport, Bacong International Seaport, and the Tamlang-Valley Agro-Industrial Development Project in Tamlang Valley.

Lemence said the governor already had talks with potential German investors for the shipbuilder’s yard in Bais City.

“The governor, in consultation with various agencies, particularly the Department of Agrarian Reform and the Philippine Rural Development Plan Special Projects, (wants) all agricultural developments to be plantation-based. Ang gusto ni governor (What he wants is that) it will create more investors and business and create jobs for the people,” he said.

Lemence also disclosed that former National Economic Development Authority Regional Director Efren Carreon has been tapped to lead the said office. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)