The Negros Oriental Chamber of Commerce & Industry, in collaboration with the Department of Tourism, recently organized a Tourism Investment Forum to promote local economic development and tourism investment in the Province.
This is in anticipation of a massive influx of Chinese tourist arrivals in Negros Oriental as a result of the recent visit of President Duterte’s state visit in China.
NOCCI President Edward Du likewise said Negros Oriental is one of the favorite destinations of Chinese travelers who recorded the highest number of tourist arrivals for the past two years in the province.
“We are confident and optimistic that there will be a lot of Chinese investors that will now also look at Negros Island as a potential investment destination for tourism, thus, together with the local government units, we are preparing for possible investment infrastructure,” Du said.
Five local government units are now ready to accept or accommodate investors, the first batch under the Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development which include the municipalities of Dauin and Manjuyod and the cities of Dumaguete, Bais, and Tanjay. These LGUS now have investment briefs with local investment codes in place.
With this, the NOCCI President challenged the rest of the municipalities or LGUs to get ready also to avail of the economic development in its respective area.
Du said in the next 12 months, anytime the Chinese investor are coming and so the province should be ready so that the investor would not go to other provinces.
The Tourism Infrastructure & Enterprise Zone Authority and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority also encouraged LGUs or developers to identify economic locations for as more than a hundred hectares to register as their tourism development projects.
With this, both the TIEZA and PEZA offer grants of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.
Du cited Sycip’s plantation with 400 hectares fronting the White Sand Bar of Manjuyod town as potential flagship or public investment under TIEZA.
Du explained that the Sycip plantation under CARP with 400 farmer-cooperative members is ideal for inclusive growth owned by the beneficiaries.
“We’re trying to convince the members to enroll their property as a flagship under TIEZA zone because we don’t have it here in the Province,” Du said.
NOCCI is now establishing strong ties with LGUs for collaboration needed to focus on tourism investment development. (RMN/JCT/PIA7-Negros Oriental)
