Regions
From The Report: The Philippines 2017
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As a result of the election of President Rodrigo Duterte in mid-2016, decentralisation and rural development have been put in the spotlight for the national agenda. Prospective investors, government planners and citizens are increasingly encouraged to look at provincial sites as destinations for investment, development and migration. The three fastest-growing regions outside of Metro Manila in 2015 were Bicol, Western Visayas and Calabarzon. Decentralisation, however, remains a slow-moving process, as the dominance of Metro Manila as the country’s economic, political and cultural nucleus has only grown stronger over the years, having been the leading magnet for investors, factories and migrants, often at the expense of previously more buoyant regions further afield.

This chapter contains interviews with Hermilando Mandanas, Governor, Province of Batangas; Alfredo Marañon Jr, Governor, Province of Negros Occidental; and Antonio Rafael del Rosario, Governor, Province of Davao del Norte.

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

Centre of attention: Prospective investors, government planners and citizens eye the nation’s regions
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As a result of the election of President Rodrigo Duterte in mid-2016, decentralisation and countryside development have been put on the Philippines’ immediate national agenda. Metro Manila faces an unsustainable traffic congestion problem, which a 2014 study by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency, in conjunction with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), estimated costs the country at least P2.4bn ($50.8m) per day. The capital city has significant infrastructure…

Analysis

Regional player: Decentralisation efforts make Central Luzon an attractive bet
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In many ways Central Luzon, or Region III, shares many characteristics with Calabarzon, the country’s industrial core. As well as being an affluent region, Central Luzon is the third-highest contributor to GDP, with Bulacan and Nueva Ecija ranking among the top-10 earning provinces according to the Commission on Audit’s 2015 “Annual Financial Report for LGUs”. With a population of 11.2m people in 2015, it is third most populated region nationally, and has the highest number of higher…

Interview

A proud participant: Hermilando Mandanas, Governor, Province of Batangas, on strengthening local resources and attracting investment
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Interview: Hermilando Mandanas What investment priorities do you believe will be the greatest drivers of growth for the province? HERMILANDO MANDANAS: Investment priorities will be those focused on our people, who remain the province’s number one resource. To nurture human capital resources a major emphasis needs to be placed on education, health and the provision of livelihood projects. This social safety net is instituted by local government units in the form of education assistance and scholarships,…

Analysis

Queen of the south: The Philippines’ fifth most populated province has become an attractive destination for investment
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Over the years Central Visayas’ key city, Cebu, has grown into one of the country’s most significant provincial economies and an attractive destination for foreign direct investment (FDI). Formerly the country’s colonial capital, and currently known as the Queen City of the South, Cebu’s central location has positioned the island as a natural entry point and trading centre for the southern Philippines. Located within Cebu province, Metro Cebu, which includes three politically independent…

Interview

Coming together: Alfredo Marañon Jr, Governor, Province of Negros Occidental, on the region’s potential as a growth driver
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Interview:Alfredo Marañon Jr What potential does the formation of the Negros Island Region (NIR) unlock for the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental? ALFREDO MARAÑON JR: As the country’s 18th and newest region, the NIR is poised to more aggressively harness the potential of both provinces across various sectors. First and foremost, rich soil, abundant water resources and stable weather conditions, compared with Luzon, enable opportunities for accelerating agricultural development…

Interview

Promoting development: Anthony del Rosario, Governor, Province of Davao del Norte, on climate change, athletics and long-term development
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Interview:Anthony del Rosario What role will the ongoing peace process in Mindanao have in furthering the immediate growth trajectory of the province? ANTHONY DEL ROSARIO: Peace and security are essential to ensure economic and social growth. It is common knowledge that the efforts by the local leadership to achieve greater economic development is stunted by a conflict that threatens all initiatives. For example, our long-term Provincial Development Plan aims to make Davao del Norte a major…