Iloilo City, Iloilo — Different sectors in the Western Visayas region have to prepare to meet the economic standards set by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), particularly when the Asean Free Trade Agreement is implemented signaling the start of the region’s integration in 2015.
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) director-general, Secretary Arsenio Balisacan also said the region must assess its capacity to face the challenges posed by developments in the ASEAN economic community by 2015.
During the Western Visayas regional forum last March 11 in Iloilo City, Balisacan, likewise, urged the strengthening of the tourism industry in Western Visayas.
The region is home to world-renowned holiday beach destination Boracay Island as well as other potentially similar destinations in Panay, Guimaras and Negros Islands.
"Tourism is Western Visayas’ biggest potential,” said Balisacan citing how tourism has a substantial multiplying effect to the regional economy as it involves food, transportation and services.
For Western Visayas to be more competitive, Balisacan said there must be continuous upgrade of such strategic infrastructure as airports, seaports and road networks for easy access in the flow of people and materials.
Another key concern is the formal training of people in the services sector including hotel and restaurant workers.
Dr. Gilberto Llanto, president of the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), also urged the strengthening of the English proficiency of students and young professionals which, he said, is integral to the competitiveness of the region in attracting more investors for business process outsourcing (BPO) companies, especially those catering to the US and Canada markets.
Ro-Ann Bacal, regional director of the Region VI office of NEDA (NEDA-6) said that participants of the regional forum came from both government and business sector of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental provinces.
