Quezon City: Local investment officers in the country have formed a group to capacitate its members, promote innovation in investment facilitation, and build a more competitive and investor-ready Philippines. The Philippine Association of Local Investment Officers (PALIO) has 84 local investment officers as members from across the country, including the National Capital Region, said Jhon Allen Berbon, the group's founding president.
According to Philippines News Agency, Berbon, who heads the Northern Samar provincial economic development and investment promotions office, said in a phone interview that forming the group was conceptualized last year. "Almost a year ago, shortly after we received our awards at Malaca±ang, my fellow awardees and I discussed the establishment of a network to facilitate knowledge exchange in investment promotion and facilitation. We gradually progressed, striving to engage the majority, if not all, of the provincial investment offices. Now, our vision has become a reality, thanks to the support of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Board of Investments (BOI)," Berbon told the Philippine News Agency.
PALIO founding officers took their oath of office on May 20 at the DILG main office in Quezon City. The ceremony was officiated by DILG Bureau of Local Government Development Director Anna Liza Bonagua and representatives from the Board of Investments (BOI), both serving as the association's technical advisers. Other officers include Jayric Amil (vice president) from Bulacan; Fatima Eleanor Villase±or (secretary) from Laguna; Frances Canlas (treasurer) from Tarlac; Anthony Calderon (auditor) from Rizal; Rona Leigh Bueno (public relations officer) from Ilocos Norte; Emmanuel Querubin (public information officer) from Quezon province; Marisa Mendoza (Luzon representative) from Batangas; Brett delos Santos (Visayas representative) from Samar; Tyron Van Villanueva (Mindanao representative) from South Cotabato; and Diego Luis Santiago (National Capital Region representative) from Pasig City.
"With the group's formation, unity is now taking shape within the investment promotion community-a shared goal to professionalize, synergize, and empower LGUs in advancing local and national economic growth," Berbon said. Under its constitution and bylaws, PALIO seeks to institutionalize a nationwide network of Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion Officers (LEDIPOs) across provinces, cities, and municipalities; and serve as a platform for capacity-building, peer learning, and technical collaboration among LEDIPOs.
They will also facilitate partnerships with national government agencies, development partners, and private sector stakeholders to promote local investments and enterprise development; advocate for responsive national and local policies that strengthen local investment ecosystems; and support the professionalization and career advancement of LEDIPOs through accreditation, certification, and continuing education.
