The ever-changing global and domestic economic landscape and the emergence of the "new normal" setting has rendered some of the socio-political and economic measures impracticable, or worse, inoperable. It is this stark reality which prompted Davao del Norte Provincial Governor Edwin “Kuya Gob” Jubahib to direct a review of the Provincial Ordinance No. 2014-002 otherwise known as the Davao del Norte Investments and Incentives Code of 2014 that took place late March of this year, at the PDRRMD Operation Center in the Provincial Capitol Compound.

The said provincial ordinance has underwent a rigid scrutiny from the Technical Working Group that was created by the Governor, by virtue of the issued Executive Order No. 09, series of 2021. The group is composed of key provincial offices and representatives from the academe and the business sector.

The Investments and Incentives Code is the program policy of the Provincial Government that embodies the investment and incentives schemes to attract the influx of local and foreign investors, and provide a more auspicious environment that allows the growth of industries, MSMEs, the utilization and value-adding of local resources, and promote the ingenuity of the local entrepreneurs. Its significance lies in its objective of enhancing the competitiveness of the local investment in the province’s local government units through appropriate local policies and programs, as well as to provide a blueprint guide in the formulation of their respective local investments and incentives code (LIIC).

The last time that the LIIC 2014 has been reviewed in revised was way back December 2019.

Present during the meeting were the members and representatives of the TWG, headed by Provincial Planning Officer Mr. Nelson F. Plata, Assistant Provincial Administrator for Operations Engr. Maria Hazel C. Zafra, and Davao del Norte Local Economic and Investment Promotion Officer Ms. Joevynar M. Miedes.

Meanwhile, the result of the review and revision will be presented to the Provincial Investment Board for its resolution. The TWG is mindful that the road to success is never easy. But with the audacity of Davao del Norte Provincial Governor Edwin “Kuya Gob” Jubahib, and the potent workforce of the provincial government, the mounting challenges are managed in order to keep pace with, and adapt to the complexities of the inevitable change.