President Arroyo on Wednesday called for the continued promotion of agricultural business investment in Northern Luzon, as she noted that some Middle East investors wanted to pour in resources in the region’s agricultural sector.

At the launching of her “modernizing” agricultural projects in Region 1, Mrs. Arroyo cited that the Ilocos Region for being one of the country’s “progressive” regions.

North Luzon, which covers Regions 1, 2 and Cordillera Administrative Region, including Aurora and Nueva Ecija, has been chosen by Mrs. Arroyo as the nation’s agri-business quadrangle.

“Congratulations to the Ilocos region for being the fourth progressive region of our nation,” she said in her speech at the launching at the Mariano Marcos State University in Batac, Ilocos Norte.

She attributed the economic landscape’s solid footing to her government reforms that generate jobs and attract investments in provinces.

“We have investors from the Middles East that would invest here,” she said.

In 2006 during her State of the Nation Address (SoNA), Mrs. Arroyo announced the creation of the “super-regions” which according to her have spurred economic development in the countryside.

The President said her administration’s investment in healthcare, education, construction and infrastructure sectors has also resulted in a “strong and stable” Philippine economy.

Apart from North Luzon, the four other super regions are Metro Luzon that covers Regions 3, 4-A, and National Capital Region or Metro Manila; Central Philippines, Regions 4-B, 5, 6, 7, and 8; and Mindanao, Regions 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

The North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle (NLAQ) seeks to spur the country’s drive towards agricultural productivity and increased food production not only to supply the major population centers of Luzon, but North Asia as well.