TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Northern Samar, led by Governor Edwin Ongchuan, met with Asian Development Bank (ADB) officials on March 5 to discuss investment facilitation and blue economy development.
Governor Ongchuan outlined his vision for sustainable development, highlighting the province’s geographic and economic potential. Discussions included positioning Northern Samar as a model local government unit (LGU) for ADB-led initiatives in coordination with national agencies.
A key focus was Northern Samar’s potential selection as a pilot LGU for the Business Environment Performance-Based Loan (PBL), an initiative backed by the Board of Investments (BOI) and the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA).
The program aims to streamline investment processes through the publication of investor guidebooks and the review of regulatory procedures, particularly in renewable energy and other key sectors.
The ADB will facilitate follow-up discussions with stakeholders, including BOI and the Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotion Office (PEDIPO), to define the scope of technical support and Northern Samar’s participation.
Another area of collaboration is the Agri-Aqua Innovation Pitch Fest (AIPF), a platform for technical support in blue economy initiatives.
The province plans to formally request ADB’s technical assistance through the Department of Agriculture, which may lead to Northern Samar’s endorsement as a contributing LGU in the AIPF.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
