SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, June 17  -- Motivated by its modest growth in 2010, the Trade, Industry and Tourism (TIT) sector of the Regional Development Council (RDC) of Pangasinan/ Ilocos Area is seizing the momentum amidst the looming new world order in pursuing the Ilocos region as agribusiness and tourism powerhouse in Northern Philippines in 2011.

Reporting the sector’s accomplishment in 2010 and their plans to address the challenges and prospects of 2011 during the State of the Regional Development conference held recently in Bauang La Union, Trade and Industry Director Florante O. Leal said the TIT sector managed a minimal gain in 2010 and strategic plans have been laid out to transform Ilocos Region as an agribusiness and tourism powerhouse in 2011.

The TIT sector of the RDC has 29 members coming from various line agencies, local government units and non-government organizations based in the region.

NEW WORLD ORDER

Leal who chairs the TIT sector said barring cataclysm, India will soon overtake Germany as the World’s third biggest economy within three decades, while China is seen to dislodge the U.S. as No 1 by mid-century. These two fast-rising economic powers could account for half of the global output. While the troika of China, India and the U.S.- the only industrialized nations with significant population growth by most projections will dwarf every other economy.

Economic conditions in these three countries play a major role in setting the economic atmosphere of less well-to-do nations. In many aspects, developing and less developed economies rely on the developed countries for their economic well-being, including the Philippines.

ECONOMY WITHSTOOD 2008-09 RECESSION

The Philippine economy weathered the global recession in 2008-2009 better than its regional neighbors due to minimal exposure to securities issued by troubled global financial institutions; lesser dependence on exports; relatively resilient domestic consumption, supported by high remittances from the 8 to 12 million overseas Filipino Workers; and a growing business process outsourcing industry.

TIT SECTOR POSTS MODEST GAIN

In 2010, the tobacco industry enjoyed an increasing inflow of investment with a double digit growth of 13.16 percent. Investments, however, went down from P 7,355.77 million in 2009 to P 6976.37 million in 2010 or a 4.89 percent decline. Private investments and Investment in Priority Industries, likewise dipped to 7.32 percent and 10.37 percent, respectively, on a year-on-year basis. Overall, the Investments went down by 4.88 percent.

Exports continued to rise with a 16 percent increase or US$ 113.41 million in 2010 to US$ 97/25 million in the previous year. Thus, sustaining the growth momentum of the regional economy.

On a positive note, tourists arrivals significantly increased by 22.56 percent compared to the previous year. The sector recovered from lingering effect of the global recession and despite the negative effect brought about by the Manila Hostage Crisis last year where eight HongKong nationals were killed.

MTRDP 2011-2016

Region 1’s Medium Term Regional Development Plan 2011-2016 has laid down the foundation to make the region resilient and adaptive to maximizing the opportunities presented by the emergence of a new world order.

The sector has incorporated President Benigno S. Aquino III’s priorities and customizes the sector’s programs and projects along these priorities.

The sector will be critically aggressive in driving its economic growth utilizing the opportunities that the present proposes and that of the past, as well as maximizing the available resources in the region in realizing its dream of becoming an agribusiness and tourism powerhouse in Northern Philippines in 2011.

PROSPECTS, CHALLENGES IN 2011

Owing to its significant importance and the future’s cash cow of the region, the stakeholders will transform the sector into a globally competitive sector significantly contributing to economic wealth creation employment generation, poverty reduction, environmental conservation and creation of an environment conducive for business for sustainable growth and development.

To achieve the dream, the sector will push for the economic integration of the region with the dynamic North-East Asian countries taking advantage of the region’s strategic location for greater market opportunities. Specifically, the sector shall undertake the following:

-Leverage the region’s land sea and air transportation networks, utilities and communication facilities, social service facilities and banking networks to entice investors and tourists to visit and do business in the growth centers of the region.

-Position Region 1 to become the trading and tourism hub in Northern Luzon linking Southeast Asia with East Asia in four of the eight targeted sectors of the Philippine Investment Priority Plan of the Department of Trade and Industry namely: a) Agro-industry, b) Business-process outsourcing Information technology, c.) Logistics, and d.) Tourism

-Make Region 1 a successful tourist destination with Pangasinan leading the way with the development of the Pangasinan Eco-Tourism Zone. The area will be an eco-tourism zone with a self contained community that will include on 18-hole gold course, beach front residences, high-end and mid-range subdivisions, commercial area, amusement park, resorts and hotels, restaurants and retail shops, water sport area and a yacht club.

-Develop local products through DTI’s product branding and certification to boost marketing of the “One Town, One Product” (OTOP) of the local government units.

-Develop competitive and skilled workers that will complement manpower requirement for the tourism and offshore and outsourcing industry among others, through the continuous development and competencies of labor force to match industry needs.

-Engage the assistance of the private sector in the implementation of government programs and projects through volunteerism and enrolment of projects through the Public-Private Partnership and the “Bayanihan Bayan Program of Government Service.

Leal said he never believes in luck, but opines luck is when opportunity meets preparation which “we have both at our fingertips right now and we are in a position to make things happen and compel ourselves to transform these opportunities to push the economy farther, he said.

original source: Philippine Information Agency