Polibiz
Nelson C. Robles
Estancia as prime mover in economic development in N. Iloilo.
(Excerpts of the message of Mayor Rene S. Cordero during the First Investment Forum held at NIPSC Mini-Theater , Estancia, Iloilo on February 15, 2007)
Greetings… Ladies and Gentlemen and fellow workers in government…
My friends and beloved Estanciahanons, we have formulated a sustainable economic road map for development in short, medium and long term stages and phases. This road map for development is embodied in our Comprehensive Land Use Plan wherein we have plotted out our ten – point agenda for action, namely:
- to upgrade agricultural and fishery production, processing and marketing without compromising the integrity of the environment;
- to enhance and improve the delivery of basic services;
- to improve peace and order and promote social justice;
- to develop livelihood, economic enterprises and other income generating projects;
- to promote environment, tourism, trade and industry;
- to promote culture, arts and sciences;
- to encourage the growth of cooperatives, NGOs and Pos;
- to establish linkages and networks for investments, both local and foreign;
- to harness “Estancia Brainpower for Development” or “Balik Estancia Program’;
- to promote programs for the youth and sports, the elderly and the physically handicapped.
My friends, ladies and gentlemen, this is the rationale of this First Investment Forum we are hosting today. As servant steward of this municipality, we live politics behind. Work for the greater good of our people is our focus. Therefore, as servant leaders of this community, we endeavor to build partnerships that encourage and facilitate convergence among the critical actors or stakeholders in the public sector and the citizens’ or the private sectors’ participation in the planning and decision making processes. We believe, that engaging the participation of the various stakeholders will promote shared ownership of plans and shared responsibility for results. This strategic methodology we employ, surely provides avenues for consensus among diverse stakeholders in pursuing a set of unified actions designed to bring about the desired changes in the community as envisioned in our road map for development…. This is what we call “shared vision… shared responsibility”.
The second reason why we are holding this Investment Forum is the fact that Estancia is now the emerging “hub of economic activities” in this part of the country. It has grown to be a major player in production and production center of commercial fishing industry in this part of the country. Our Feeder Port is teeming with marine products and trading activities has brought income to our people, especially to our marginal fisher folks. Businessmen both local and foreign are coming in to invest. But they do not know where to put their money or capital. As steward of this municipality, it is my sworn duty to inform these investors of the LGU’s short, medium and long term priorities. Our Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator, Mr. Eugene V. Tentativa, has posted this forum in our website: http//www.lgu-estancia.org/main. A lot of inquiries have poured in, like, “which hotel shall we stay?”; “what can you offer to us as economic incentives, if we invest?”, and other questions about the opportunities and potentials of our municipality.
Friends, ladies and gentlemen, records from the Bureau of Local Government Finance show that Estancia has an annual average actual income of P 39.56 million. And it is for this reason that we requested the upgrading of class of our municipality from Fourth Class to First Class Municipality – one heart beat to city hood. Congressman Rolex T. Suplico and or his brother Boy Suplico will help us on this concern. He has plans to make the Municipalities of Batad, Balasan, Carles and Estancia a “metro municipalities” in Northern Iloilo , utilizing the Integrated Area Development approach to hasten development in this part of the country.
Tomorrow is a new day, day full of fresh hope, for all Estanciahanons and the neighboring municipalities. As the saying Goes: “Every sunrise brings new chances to grow, new lessons to learn, new places to explore and the promise of a new day that brings us closer to the reality of our dreams”. So, it is time to “re-invent Estancia as prime mover in economic development in the northern Iloilo.