Peace and order crucial to economic development, guv says

By John Noel E. Herrera

Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. said peace and order is crucial to boost the economy and attract more investors in the province.

In a press conference, Defensor explained that his order to strengthen threat assessment at the municipal level was not only for the safety of the public and all local chief executives (LCEs), but also a preparation for transforming the province into an investment hub.

“We take this opportunity to discuss other aspects of peace and order because we are positioning the province as an investment area,” Defensor said.

Defensor noted that the province is ready for potential investors as they have secured four areas needed for business, which include water sources, electricity, road connectivity, and internet connectivity.

The governor, however, stressed that it would be complete if the province could assure the safety of investors and noted that it would be possible through strengthening the threat assessment of the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) in each town from all possible sources, including local insurgents.

“[We have] water, electricity, road connectivity, and internet connectivity, but there is something that is not there that can be provided by the PNP and that is the peace and order, which is very important in our development thrust,” Defensor added.

Earlier this year, Defensor laid down the province’s development thrust for 2023, which is centered on Iloilo’s agricultural production and other innovations which could attract investors to create a strong middle class in the province.

He noted that the province still needs to improve the value chain for agricultural products and “process them into something else so that we can fill the gaps.”

The province has large agricultural land intended for sugarcane, coffee, and cocoa, but there is no known candy or chocolate industry in Iloilo, according to Defensor.

Aside from the agricultural industry, the provincial government also wants to “develop growth center areas that shall serve as investment centers for the information and communications technology and light industries.”

“We are selling the province to the developers who want to put up light industries and IT parks in the province. That is why gina-plastar naton sang maathag ang sitwasyon sang province in terms of electricity, land, internet connectivity, and water, because these growth areas will depend on those four,” Defensor previously said.