DILG, Canada ink agreement with DavNor with dev’t. Of Talikud Island

DAVAO CITY, 1 October 2014 —The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) through its Local Governance Support Program for Local Economic Development (LGSP-LED), a program supported by the Government of Canada, signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) today (Sept. 1) with the Province of Davao Del Norte to conduct a two-year tourism project. The project aims to support local government efforts and their private sector partners in creating an open beach model in the Island Garden City of Samal (IgaCoS). This would ensure that the beach areas remain a public domain, making economic opportunities accessible to more people and fostering inclusive growth in the community. Governor Rodolfo Del Rosario signed the MOA together with DILG Regional Director Wilhelm Suyko, Department of Tourism Region XI Chief Tourism Operations Officer Eden David, LGSP-LED Field Director Francis Gentoral.

In a brief message, Del Rosario said that he hopes for a fruitful partnership between the agencies and organizations involved, and believes that the same level of commitment should be extended even after the project has ended. He also emphasized the need for a strong government to ensure the continued support for the development of Talikud Island.

Through the said MOA, Davao del Norte, DILG, and the Government of Canada, through LGSP-LED, agree and commit to collaborate for sustainable local economic development. Davao del Norte targeted over PHP 160 million new public and private investments in tourism by the end of the project. Through the project, DavNor also aims for a 20% increase both in annual tourist arrivals and in new jobs created yearly in the tourism sector.

The Government of Canada has approved a budget of approximately PHP 6-million for the ‘Sustainable Tourism Development and Business Enablement for IgaCoS’ project. This will focus on developing the capacities of local private sector groups and economic officers of the LGU to be more capable in business planning, investment promotion, destination marketing, economic recovery, and sustainable project implementation.

Through the same event, another Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by the regional offices of DILG, DOT, DENR, DTI, TESDA, DOLE, DSWD, Maritime Industry Authority, PNP, DPWH, and DA-Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources. This group is known as the Regional Economic Transformation Team (RETT), an innovative mechanism of the local project that will harmonize and tailor economic programs of different agencies and help DavNor achieve its targets.(Keisha Halili/PIO DavNor)