Gov. Edgar Chatto presented Bohol’s economic development promotion that earned new partners during the international urban development conference in Pasay City which was the first in the country under Pres. Rodrigo Duterte and Vice Pres. Leni Robredo.

Chatto was among the panelists who discussed local economic development from several viewpoints and generated insights that  promote economic growth.

The 2016 International Conference on Urban Development: Accelerating Resilience and Inclusive Growth held at the Sofitel Philippine Plaza on July 12-13 highlighted 14 interactive “streams” to “discover new strategies and exchange ideas.”

The streams showed more ways to promote local economic development, which Bohol’s case Chatto presented as stimulating  innovation through human capital development and social inclusion in urban environment.

There was “a meeting of two great minds” at a point of the conference, posted on her facebook Linda Paredes of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth with Equity (SURGE) Project.

Paredes, who is the USAID SURGE Tagbilaran City Programme Coordinator, was referring to the Bohol governor and Dr. Rufo Mendoza, professor at the Asian Institute of Management (AIM).

Mendoza is the consultant of the provincial government in preparing the Strategic Financial Management Plan (SFMP) with the aid of the Australian government thru the Provincial Road Management Facility (PRMF).

The conference was organized by the USAID, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), World Bank (WB), United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and National Competitiveness Council Philippines (NCCP).

Paredes also cited the presentation of Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap II, who was one of the chosen panelists for financing urban development.

The governor shared Bohol’s experiences in not only promoting local economic development through agri-industrialization, tourism and information technology.

Paredes said Chatto also presented Bohol’s experiences in bringing out more jobs, creating wealth, reducing poverty, generating more businesses and investments, and increasing bank deposits.

Further, the governor cited the reducing inflation, which Bohol’s rate is the region’s lowest, and even the increasing number of cars sold and bought within the province as “hallmarks of improvement in the local economy,” Paredes said.

Along with the governor to the conference was, Provincial Planning and Development Officer John Titus Vistal, who placed at the top five in the recent National Licensure Examinations for Environmental Planners given by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).

Chatto earlier commended Vistal and the provincial government project monitoring council for Bohol’s award from the Regional Development Council (RDC) as the “Best Province in Project Monitoring and Evaluation.”

GLOBAL IDEAS

FOR LOCAL GROWTH

The conference gathered some 1,200 international and local experts and business leaders from the national and local governments, representatives from donor agencies and professional organizations, as well as students of urban development.

In the plenary spoke USAID Philippines Mission Director Susan Brems; David Grossman, director, Global Programs, International City/County Management Association (ICMA); Prof. Charles Landry, Co Media founder, an authority on the use of imagination and creativity in urban change and inventor of the concept of the Creative City; Makiko Watanabe, WB senior social development specialist; and Sen. Richard Gordon, among others.

Delegates shared innovative ideas and came up with practical means to pursue resilience and inclusive growth.

The conference was considered the Philippines’ biggest international conference on urban development and the potential of secondary cities as engines of growth.

It fostered multi-disciplinary discussions and formed networks of partners to promote public and private sector collaboration in achieving livable, safe and economically vibrant cities.

Other top topics involved improving water access and sanitation services, technological solutions for urban development, feeding urban populations, climate change and disaster risk reduction, and urban planning and infrastructure development.

The rest dealt with urban land tenure issues, metropolitan arrangements, urbanization and housing, low emission development strategies, and improving business climate for investment.

 

Chatto articulated Bohol’s fostering sustainable growth through local economic development, which he detailed by presenting the current initiatives, results of sustained efforts, and on-going and forthcoming major projects.

His fellow plenary speakers on promoting local economic development were Dmitry Sivaev, World Bank urban development specialist; Eileen San Juan, local economic and investment promotions officer of Cagayan de Oro City; Angel Ngu, Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FFCCCI) president; and Mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog of Iloilo City.

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Dr. Dina Magnaye, professor at the University of the Philippines – School of Urban and Regional Planning (UP-SURP), moderated the panel discussion.

The conference was in partnership with the FFCCI, UP-SURP, Philippine Institute of Environmental Planners (PIEP), ABS-CB News Channel (ANC), 8990 Holdings, Inc., Publicus Asia, Inc., Organization of Socialized Housing Developers of the Philippines (OSHDP), Globe and ASUS. (Ven rebo Arigo)