‘DIVE INTO THE FUTURE’: Forum centers on Iloilo’s rise as economic and sustainable hub

Iloilo is being hailed as a new center for investment and sustainable growth not only in Western Visayas but in the Philippines as well.

Stakeholders will take a deeper look into Iloilo’s potential in a conference at the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology in Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, today, March 15, 2024.

Themed ” Promoting Iloilo as Business and Investment Hub,” this half-day event, running from 8 AM to 12 NN, is set to be a defining moment for the region’s economic and sustainable development prospects.

The seminar will feature an array of esteemed speakers, including representatives from MORE Power, Iloilo Electric Cooperative Inc. II, and the Dumangas-Barotac Nuevo Water District, all of whom will contribute to discussions on elevating Iloilo’s status as a key investment and business location.

Among the confirmed speakers are ILECO II officials, Mary Jane Bayas-Octobre from the Dumangas-Barotac Nuevo Water District, Atty. Alyana Babayen-on of MORE Power, Aulynn Yue Sin of the Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion (LEDIP) Center, and Engr. Fulbert Woo of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry  (PCCI)-Iloilo, who will serve both as a panelist and as a speaker delivering a key message.

The forum is jointly organized by the Business Management Association of the Philippines – BMAP Region VI, the Association of Business Students in Iloilo, and co-presented with JCI Regatta-Iloilo and Prometheus.

It also has the support of PCCI, Iloilo Business Club, JCI Barotac Nuevo Tamasak and the SK Federations of the City and Province of Iloilo.

Local residents, like Jaime Delos Reyes, a fisherman from a nearby coastal community, are hopeful about the opportunities such an event could bring.

“This could open up new ways for us to market our catch and improve our trade,” he shared, reflecting on the possibilities for small-scale industries.

Maria Santos, a small business owner in the city, added, “It’s exciting to see Iloilo gaining attention. I am looking forward to the growth opportunities that may come from this event, which might mean good things for all of us here.”