TOP PUBLIC and private sector leaders, the business community and national government agencies in Western Visayas joined the “Mayor’s Night: A Regional Business Interface” on Aug. 23, 2022 at the Iloilo Convention Center in Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
The event tackled the region’s business opportunities, building networks and fast-tracking the game plan on business recovery.
Organized by the Iloilo City Government and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Iloilo Chapter, Inc., it was part of the Iloilo Business Week celebration.
Iloilo City’s Mayor Jerry Treñas urged stakeholders to work together and co-create solutions.
“We can no longer work in silos. The call of the time is integration, alignment and harmonization. Knowing our strengths and weaknesses and working in complementation to fill-in the gaps to complete the value chain of any intervention or industry is key. We need each other. The pandemic has clearly shown that,” Treñas stressed.
At the event, Negros Occidental’s Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson discussed investment opportunities in his province.
The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines – Western Visayas also joined the fellowship dinner.
Treñas, meanwhile, pointed out that aside from the city government’s Public-Private Partnership for the redevelopment of two public markets, people also look forward to the completion of big-ticket projects such as the Jalaur River multipurpose darn, the realization of the Panay-Guimaras-Negros bridge, the expansion/redevelopment of Bacolod-Silay and Iloilo airports with more international flights, and the possibility of a Panay Expressway or railway. These, he said would further spur the region’s development.
“With all of these opportunities, let is focus on how we can position our localities in the context of the economic development of the whole region. Let us roll up our sleeves and work on strengthening our respective local economies. The value chain with strong individual links will prevail. Through this, we can make Region 6 more resilient to future shocks,” said Treñas./PN
