TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Benguet has proposed a sisterhood agreement with the province of Northern Samar.
This proposal, made through Board Member Marie Rose Fongwan-Kepes, chairperson of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan committee on trade, industry, was made during their recent visit to Northern Samar for a four-day benchmarking trip in the last week of August.
“We are proposing a sisterhood with Northern Samar so that, in the future, our provinces can collaborate and share resources to boost livelihoods and support our communities,” Fongwan-Kepes said during the visit.
The Benguet officials visited key investment sites in Northern Samar, including the renewable energy plant under construction in San Isidro, as well as top tourist attractions and emerging tourism destinations in the province.
Fongwan-Kepes explained that Benguet’s visit was driven by their search for effective strategies to complete their own Local Investments and Incentives Code (LIIC).
“We couldn’t finalize our LIIC, so we sought a province with an effective LIIC, and we found Northern Samar, which even received a Presidential Award for its efforts. That’s why we came here—to learn from them,” she said.
She added that Benguet is looking for ways to increase its resources beyond the traditional revenue streams from the national tax allotment (NTA), which will ultimately benefit their people.
One of the key takeaways for the Benguet delegation was Northern Samar’s “Green Lane” initiative, which streamlines investment processes.
Fongwan-Kepes noted that Northern Samar’s strong collaboration with municipal local government units (LGUs), through strategic Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) and key executive orders, has significantly improved the ease of doing business in the province. The efficient coordination with national government agencies also ensures alignment with national policies and objectives.
The proposed sisterhood agreement is seen as mutually beneficial, particularly for Northern Samar in the field of agriculture.
Benguet, known for its advanced agricultural systems and practices, can share its expertise with Northern Samar to help enhance the province’s agricultural potential.
The formal signing of the memorandum of understanding between Benguet and Northern Samar is scheduled for November this year, when Governor Edwin Ongchuan and other Northern Samar officials are invited to Benguet for the occasion.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
