Visayas board members' confab slated on Nov. 28-30
Close to one hundred Regular and Ex-Officio Board Members from the Visayas Island are expected to attend the 6th Provincial Board Members League of the Philippines (PBMLP) Visayas Island Conference at Casa Pilar, Boracay Island, Malay, Aklan on November 28-30, 2008.
Iloilo First District Board Member Oscar Richard S. Garin, Jr., Conference Co-Director and Vice Chairman for Visayas said that this an opportunity for the Board Members from the 16 provinces comprising Visayas Island to establish a friendly relation to harmoniously act together in bringing about development in their respective areas.
Iloilo Third District Board Member, Atty. Arthur R. Defensor, Jr, Conference Co-Director and Regional Chairman of the PBMLP Region VI said that this year's theme, "Laying Down the Cornerstones of Investment," is very timely considering the global economic crisis confronting us today. The said activity will provide the Provincial Board Members a forum for the discussion of issues on investment, more specifically, on establishment of special economic zones, investment incentives the LGU can offer, streamlining the business permit and licensing system, and codification of investment code. Likewise, there will be special topics on Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007, climate change, and reproductive health bill.
The three-day conference will be participated in by sixteen (16) provinces from Western, Central, and Eastern Visayas, which include the Provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Bohol, Cebu, Negros Oriental, Siquijor, Biliran, Leyte, Southern Leyte, Eastern Samar, Northern Samar, and Samar.
Technical sessions include the following: Establishment of Special Economic Zone by Architect Emmanuel D. Cortero, Department Manager, Ecozone Development Department, Philippine Economic Zone Authority; Investment Incentives the LGU Can Offer by Director Dominic P. Abad, Regional Director, Department of Trade and Industry, Regional Office VI; Business Permits and Licensing System: Streamlining the Process by Director Diosdado P. Cadena, Provincial Director, Department of Trade and Industry, Province of Aklan; Codifying the Provincial Investment Code by Ms. Ma. Caltiza J. Sardua, OIC-Chief, Operations Services Division,Department of the Interior and Local Government, Region VI; Climate Change by Ms. Maria Nove A. Mejica, Local Gov't. Operations Officer VI, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Province of Negros Occidental; Anti-Red Tape Act of 2007 by Hon. Rolex T. Suplico, Vice Governor, Province of Iloilo; and Understanding the Reproductive Health Bill by Hon. Janette L. Garin, Representative, First Congressional District, Province of Iloilo. (Gina Hablero / Von Superio)