Davao chamber prescribes ways to improve city economy

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Businessmen here are urging the city government to promote investments in agriculture, tourism, as well as in information and communications technology (ICT). Conrado T. Hernaez, Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry executive director, said the city government should draw up a plan to promote opportunities in these three sectors. Mr. Hernaez explained the city already has infrastructure facilities necessary to promote these sectors to investors. He said the Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking survey conducted by the Asian Institute of Management for 2007 ranked this city seventh among 90 key cities as a good source of human resources. But Mr. Hernaez said there is still a need for the city to come up with a promotional plan since foreigners usually lump it with conflict-afflicted areas elsewhere in Mindanao. "We want to promote the city as itself, considering that we are more peaceful than most parts of the country," he said. This issue is among the 11 resolutions that the business group will submit to the city government during the one-day Davao City Business Conference today. In its resolution, the chamber urged the city government to position the city "as a growing cosmopolitan, attractive and peaceful investment destination." The chamber is also asking the "business community to develop alternative products to lessen dependence on rice as a staple food and for the city government to undertake a health campaign on these alternatives." Other resolutions include: * harmonize conflicting details of the zoning plan; * improve the drainage system; * encourage food handlers to abide with good manufacturing practices and food safety management standards; * develop and implement an ICT master plan; * develop and implement a tourism master plan; * provide incentives and other support to hogs and poultry raisers using biogas facilities for waste management and power generation; * push for the development and improvement of the Davao City port facilities in Sasa; * urge the Department of Transportation and Communications to convert the old Davao International Airport terminal to an international air cargo, logistics and trade center; and, * convert Davao River into a water highway. — Carmelito Q. Francisco, BusinessWorld