*Gov. MMM assures support to the business sector to help bounce the local economy
To help in the speedy recovery of Ilocos Norte’s local economy through the resumption of business operations and the creation of employment opportunities, Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc led a virtual meeting with local business executives and private company representatives.
“We have turned our focus now to our economy and supporting the businesses. For the first time, we reached out to all big businesses to ask them how we can support and ensure that they will not close shop,”
Governor Manotoc shared during his recent press briefing.
Several other matters raised during the virtual meeting were the border controls affecting the business sector, restrictions due to local government units’ policies, and a potential private-public partnership in the formation of job-generating programs, among others.
Addressing these concerns, the Provincial Government extended its working hours at provincial borders to accommodate more Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APORs) and truck delivery services.
Also, Governor Manotoc, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, and Ilocos Norte Trade and Investment Promotions Center are preparing to revisit the Provincial Investment Code so that they can craft a Joint Venture Ordinance with the private sector.
“We know that when one big business shuts down, madaming Ilocano ang mawawalan ng trabaho. So we want to make sure that we support them and even possibly encourage them to expand para mas madami pa tayong mabigyan ng trabaho,” Governor Manotoc added.
The past seven months of Community Quarantine in the country has brought massive job displacements and layoffs.
In Ilocos Norte alone, the unemployment rate down to 22.3% in April 2020, from 5.9% in the same quarter last year.— (Blessing Angel V. Agliam, PGIN-CMO)
