The Municipal Government of Roxas, Isabela, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry – Regional Office No. 02 (DTI R02), conducted a Local and Regional Economic Development (LRED) Upscaling on October 26 – 27, 2017 at the SB Session Hall, Municipal Hall, Roxas, Isabela. 

Dubbed as a participatory, action-oriented, and holistic planning approach, the activity convened local stakeholders from the public and private sectors to work together for the improvement of the economic conditions of the locality by focusing on its “burning” economic issues.

In one of the workshops, the participants identified the following issues that hamper the economic development of the municipality: 1.) Absence of a banner product of Roxas, Isabela; 2.) Underutilization of the Agri – Pinoy Trading Center (APTC); and 3.) Lack of big-ticket investors. 

As a response, the following programs were proposed: 1.) Purposive development and promotion of One Town, One Product; 2.) Intensified operations of the APTC; and 3.) Efficient and effective operationalization of the Local Investments and Incentives Code (LIIC). Action plans for these programs were also drafted by the participants and will be fine-tuned by concerned Regional Line Agencies (RLAs) and institutions. Once approved, the programs will be implemented within six (6) to twelve (12) months.

In a message, Hon. Nick M. Sebastian, Municipal Vice – Mayor, expressed his gratitude to DTI R02 and to the Resource Speaker, Mr. Medardo D. Noscal, for introducing LRED to the municipality. He noted that with the cooperation and support of everyone – including the academe, private sector, and the local and national government, the Municipality of Roxas, Isabela will continue to grow and to move forward.♦