Oriental Mindoro investment summit
Bernardo M. Villegas
Oriental Mindoro is a microcosm of the Philippines. Its potentials for high economic growth, full of employment and an equitable distribution of income and wealth have been largely unrealized because of the long years of neglect of rural infrastructures such as feeder roads, post-harvest facilities and irrigation systems. Oriental Mindoro is one of the major victims of an inward-looking industrialization strategy followed by our leaders for some twenty years after the Second World War. Part of the hundreds of billions of pesos that went into the financing of the infant industries that never grew up could have been spent on a good network of rural roads that could have lowered the cost of distribution of such agricultural products as calamansi, banana (Saba), and rice. Those same roads could have also attracted millions of tourists to the province.
In a previous column, I referred to the forthcoming Oriental Mindoro Investment Summit scheduled for April 5-7, 2006 in Calapan, Mindoro. Some 200 actual and potential investors are expected to listen to presentations by industrial economists from the University of Asia and the Pacific on profitable investment opportunities in energy, agribusiness, tourism and logistics.
This coming Summit is a continuation of the Mindoro Power Summit held three years ago. Attended by over 150 leaders from the local and national government, from the business sector and from the media, the Power Summit was the first ever attempt at energy planning on a sub-regional or island level. On top of this, that summit clearly identified future work which included first, an Investment Summit and second, an Integrated Area Development Plan.
In this coming summit in April, an update on the power situation will be presented. Four other possible areas of investments will be highlighted: Tourism, Logistics and Infrastructure (featuring RORO), Agribusiness, and Social Developments. Highlights from the research papers written on each of these areas of investments will be presented.
Estimates on demand for tourism services and identification of priority areas for tourism investment will be the topic of a paper on tourism to be presented by Ms. Cherrylyn Rodolfo, the UA&P specialist on the tourism industry.
A paper on logistics and infrastructure tackles four major issues and their investment implications that need to be addressed by LGU-Private Sector partnership in order to take advantage of the opportunities that the Philippine Nautical Highway presents. This paper will be presented by Mr. Henry Basilio, consultant to the Government and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry on logistics.
An agribusiness situationer on Oriental Mindoro will be presented by Dr. Rolando Dy, one of the country’s leading agribusiness experts and currently Dean of the School of Management of UA&P. He will present strategic issues, options and directions for the agribusiness sector of Oriental Mindoro.
Lastly, a paper on social development will be presented by Mr. Bien Nito, head of the School of Economics, Social Economics Unit. The paper will give an overview of the antipoverty initiatives that are currently being undertaken by some of the leading non-government organizations operating in the area. Some of the more outstanding anti-poverty programs and projects undertaken in other areas of the country and which can be replicated in Oriental Mindoro will also be presented. Hopefully, these initiatives can give ideas to the business sector in the exercise of their corporate social responsibility. Social development is a key plank in any sustainable development planning.
The third day will be devoted to Lakbay Mindoro, a program of the provincial government of Oriental Mindoro. The program aims to give the participants a chance to see the unspoiled natural beauty, the lush greenery, the majestic mountains, the white sand beaches, the natural waterfalls, the exotic flora and fauna of Mindoro and the warm hospitality of the Mindorenos.
Those interested in participating in the Investment Summit may register by visiting the website www.orminvest.com. They may also get in touch with Mr. Louie Molina at 6370912 local 253. For comments, my email is bvillegas@uap.edu.ph.
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