Manila: The Ilocos Norte government, through its Ilocos Norte Trade and Investment Promotions Office (INvest Office), announced on Monday the opening of a research grant for qualified academic institutions, research organizations, and other eligible entities to undertake pre-feasibility studies on selected government properties available for development.

According to Philippines News Agency, Ronaleigh Bueno, chief of the INvest Office, stated that this initiative aims to strengthen investment promotion and accelerate project development in the province by providing a PHP250,000 research grant per project area. The targeted areas for these studies include the Dungon-Dungon property, a 256.88-hectare pasture in Burgos town; Northern Foods Corporation, a 3.12-hectare commercial/industrial property in Sarrat; the Takuat Information Technology Park, a one-hectare property ideal for commercial and industrial use in San Nicolas; and the Saud Municipal Beach Development Area in Barangay Saud, Pagudpud town.

These public areas are currently underutilized and are open for eligible developers and operators of economic zones and industrial estates. "The grant will support studies that generate comprehensive market, technical, financial, economic, and investment information needed to assess the development potential of these public areas," the INvest Office said in a statement.

Findings from the pre-feasibility studies will help guide the province in identifying viable projects, attracting investors, and ensuring that public assets are developed strategically and sustainably. Bueno emphasized that the initiative promotes evidence-based planning by partnering with research institutions to produce studies that support future infrastructure, tourism, commercial, agricultural, and other projects.

This initiative follows President Ferdinand R. Marcos' call for a strategy to attract quality investments that create jobs, boost regional development, and support sustainable growth. The province's key industries include food and agriculture, tourism, creative industries, manufacturing, renewable energy, information technology and business process outsourcing, services, and mining.