BAGUIO CITY, July 27 -– President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s program dubbed “Ambisyon Natin 2040” that seeks to improve the lives of Filipinos is attainable in the Cordillera as evidenced by the continuous boost in the economy, Regional Development Council (RDC) chairman, Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan said in a yearend report released recently.
“It is slowly and steadily growing. Employment has increased, and poverty has decreased. Roads, infrastructures including telecommunication connectivity are in place and improving,” Domogan said.
Proof of the improving economy is the accomplishment of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) that houses 13 manufacturing companies producing export quality products.
PEZA is also considered the main exporter of the region. In 2016, its exports grew by 19.5 percent with 72 percent of its exports coming from the electronics.
In 2015, it posted an export value of USD.046 billion which increased to USD.205 billion in 2016, contributing to job generation.
Among the industries at the PEZA are Moog Inc., a worldwide designer, manufacturer, and integrator of precision motion control products and systems for military and commercial aircraft, satellites and space vehicles, launch vehicles, missiles, industrial machinery, wind energy, marine applications, and medical equipment; the Texas Instruments Philippines, which produces semiconductors and is the biggest maker of chips for consumer electronics in the world; The Adriste which produces high-end leather gloves, shawls and knit-wear; Tara Design which produces garments for high end market; and Bay Sports which manufactures MM chocolate canisters.
In his report, Domogan said the PEZA, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have registered numerous investments brought in the region in the past years. Aside from foreign and local investment of larger magnitude, there are new investments in micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) which translated to jobs through the assistance of the DTI and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The increase in tourist arrivals also contributed to the regional gross domestic product (RGDP).
Infrastructure has likewise improved with more roads being paved, linking the different provinces to each other and to the other regions, not to mention the municipalities’ and cities’ connectivity to cellular phone signals.
“This improvement can be reflected in the improving economy as transportation has led to the efficiency of exporting goods. Aside from goods and services, the increasing number of tourists can lead to the restoration of commercial flights at the Baguio Airport,” Domogan said.
The mayor also reported that the region remains to be the top producer of high value crops, for the country’s market.
The improved peace and security in the region has also led to more local government units (LGUs) delivering services to the residents, which in turn led to more of them receiving their Seal of Local Good Governance in 2016.
Apart from sourcing funds to serve the constituents, more LGUs have come up with their own Public Financial Management Assessment Tool which has led to the doubling of their total actual revenue in the last three years, enabling them to post a 90 percent to 100 percent local revenue collections.
Health being the wealth of every LGU, investments to lower maternal deaths and of infants and under-five children are continuously improving through the delivery of services by the health agencies.
President Duterte’s goal to give high regard for the Indigenous People (IP) is also already being attained with the IP Education being included in the education system and is now being implemented apart from the relevant and liberating education for all learners and highly skilled and making the region a source of globally competitive human resources.
“Our economy has slowly and steadily grown, employment has increased and poverty has been reduced. There is however a need to revive our agriculture sector, revitalize the industry and sustain growth in services to sustain the region’s source of income from the sector,” Domogan said.
He expressed a positive view that President Duterte’s dream of making Filipinos’ lives better is attainable in the Cordillera especially with the quest for a Cordillera Autonomous Region, which bill is pending in Congress, that will further boost the economy of the region and contribute to the nation’s progress.** Kris Chan and Pamela Mariz Geminiano/PNA
