Cities and Provinces in Western Mindanao to Collaborate to Boost Local Investmen...

Cities and Provinces in Western Mindanao to Collaborate to Boost Local Investments Isabela City, Basilan---- Business owners, many representing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), gathered this week at the Isabela City Business Summit and Expo 2025 for a dynamic exchange of ideas, opportunities, and innovations. The event showcased the vital role of small businesses in driving the local economy. Data shown by the City Planning and Development Office reveals, 99.6% of the 1,748 registered businesses in the city are MSMEs. The LGU adopted a program that provides incentives to registered business owners. The increase in local economic activities resulted to a decrease in the city’s poverty incidence from 41% in 2018 to10% in 2023, earning the city a spot in the Top 15 Most Competitive Component Cities in Mindanao in 2024. Among the highlights of the Summit was a presentation by the Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance, Inc. (ZABIDA), a non-government organization committed to inclusive development across the Region. ZABIDA introduced its flagship project on investments, “Mobilizing Investments Toward Poverty Eradication, Peacebuilding and Sustainability,” currently being implemented in the provinces of Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte. The initiative is funded by the German Development Cooperation, with support from the European Union. The Economic Development Committee of the Regional Development Council-IX earlier passed a resolution expressing support to the project. Ms Esperancita Hupida, Executive Director of ZABIDA, took the stage to explain the project’s framework, emphasizing the Five Pillars of Investment--- a comprehensive guide designed to help local government units attract investors and stimulate local economic growth. She also stressed on the importance to implement the Local Investment and Incentive Code (LIIC) across the Region, as part of a multi-stakeholder effort to reduce poverty and promote inclusive, sustainable development. “One key goal is to promote the region’s abundant commodities: corn, cacao, coconut and sardines,” Hupida said. She added, “without these policies, we can’t invite investors or build partnerships. These incentives don’t only benefit the investors, they also support small farmers and cooperatives.” A key output of the project is a regional knowledge product that will compile lessons learned from mobilizing local investments in Zamboanga Peninsula and Isabela City. This resource book will serve as a guide for LGUs and future LEDIPOs, ensuring continuity amidst leadership transitions. Hupida cited the transformation of Isabela City, which used to be unsafe and unattractive to investors but is now progressive and thriving. Isabela City Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman welcomed the idea of collaborating with the other LGUs in the Region. “We are very open to learning from the other provinces. What Isabela City can share is our Interest-free Micro Finance HapIsabela Program. We don’t believe in just giving capital. We offer assistance from business ideation, capacity development on entrepreneurship, until they start earning,” Hataman said. One of the succeeding plans is to convene the Local Economic Development Investment Promotion Officers (LEDIPO) of the Provinces and Cities in Western Mindanao to strategize how to effectively mobilize local investments as one Region. The participation of delegates from Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga del Norte in the Isabela City Business Summit and Expo 2025 has produced positive outcomes, providing them with valuable insights into the city's initiatives to attract investors and promote local products—efforts that they may consider replicating in their own provinces. -Fin-