BY GLENDA SOLOGASTOA
ILOILO – This province has been included in the Local Government Support Program – Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED), a joint project of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Canadian government.
According to Gov. Arthur Defensor Sr., Iloilo will be embarking on economic and development programs and initiatives with the support of the Canadian government through its Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).
This will specifically benefit the towns of Banate, Ajuy, Barotac Viejo, San Dionisio, Concepcion, Estancia and Carles, he revealed.
The identified areas were chosen based on the inputs of the Provincial Planning and Development Office.
The Canadian government will extend technical support to programs that could boost the economy of these areas, said Defensor.
A total of 11 provinces qualified for the LGSP-LED. Four are from Western Visayas. Aside from Iloilo, the three others are Aklan, Antique and Negros Occidental.
Defensor said one of programs that CIDA will be supporting in Iloilo is on tourism development.
For instance, the community will be provided with capability-building, trainings and strategies to improve their livelihood – as in souvenir-making for tourists.
In Negros Occidental, their focus will be on the development of their heritage sites./PN
