ECCP to hold monthly dialogue with LGUs

The European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (ECCP) is set to hold a series of monthly dialogues with local government units (LGUs), starting in October, as part of efforts to decentralize the state of business affairs from Metro Manila.

"The agenda will shift from meeting to meeting, looking at improvements in the cooperation between LGUs and business with the objective in mind to achieve decentralization and regional development in investments and trade," Henry J. Schumacher, ECCP senior advocacy adviser, said in a text message.

Schumacher noted Interior Undersecretary Austere A. Panadero invited the ECCP for the monthly talks.

The ECCP currently has over 800 member companies operating across the country.

Other than a tentative schedule by mid-October, the actual date for the first meeting has not yet been, Schumacher noted.

President Rodrigo Duterte said last week he was opening up regions in the Visayas and Mindanao by speeding up infrastructure development.

"The government is looking at decentralization and regionalization. We have started it ... We have to understand that we have to drive more investments toward Visayas and Mindanao," Schumacher said.

ECCP is set to begin the dialogue with select LGUs across the country, including  Puerto Princesa in Luzon, Tuburan in the Visayas, and Cagayan de Oro in Mindanao. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/VDS, GMA News