The Board of Investments (BOI), through a collaborative effort by its Investments Assistance Service (IAS) and Information and Communications (InfoComms) Division, capacitated La Union’s local government units (LGUs) through an in-depth capacity-building training held on 21 November 2024. The initiative, aimed at enhancing the investment promotion capabilities of La Union, equipped local leaders with the necessary tools and strategies to attract both local and foreign investments by leveraging the province’s unique value propositions.
The event featured expert-led discussions on key aspects of investment promotion and facilitation, emphasizing the need for La Union to position itself as an ideal destination for investments. The sessions covered how local governments can identify the region’s potential sectors, build a strong image for the province, and provide end-to-end facilitation services for investors. These initiatives are aimed at ensuring La Union can effectively attract and retain investments that will drive its economic growth and development.
Mr. Lubin De Vera, Jr., Chief of BOI’s Investments Assistance Service (IAS), opened the training with an insightful presentation on the Philippine Economic Briefing. He discussed the country’s competitive standing in the global investment landscape and highlighted the advantages of the Philippines within the Southeast Asian region.
Building on this foundation, Ms. Hershey Serrano, Investment Specialist of BOI-IAS, provided valuable insights into how La Union can develop a compelling image for investments. She outlined strategies to highlight the province’s strengths across key sectors such as manufacturing, renewable energy, infrastructure, and other emerging industries. Her session guided local government officials understand the importance of tailoring investment promotion strategies to emphasize these opportunities and effectively attract investors to the region.
Following this, Ms. Faith Balbido, Supervising Investment Specialist of InfoComms, presented the “Make it Happen in the Philippines” campaign, a national initiative aimed at promoting the Philippines as a premier investment destination. She discussed the campaign’s development and shared practical advice on how local municipalities can align their investment promotion efforts with the national branding. Ms. Balbido’s session provided local officials with the tools to craft effective communication strategies and messages that resonate with potential investors.
Ms. Betina Fernandez, Multimedia Production Specialist of InfoComms, concluded the series of presentations on developing communication plans by introducing the brand guidelines for the “Make it Happen in the Philippines” campaign. She provided practical advice on creating communication materials and digital content, highlighting how La Union could incorporate these brand elements into its own promotional efforts. Ms. Fernandez also shared tips on using digital marketing platforms to expand La Union’s visibility and reach a broader audience of investors.
The InfoComms team also demonstrated how La Union’s investment promotion activities could be integrated into the broader national framework of the “Make it Happen in the Philippines” campaign. This integration would ensure that La Union’s promotional efforts are consistent with the national image, enhancing the province’s visibility as an attractive investment destination.
The training culminated in an interactive workshop, where participants applied the concepts and strategies discussed throughout the day. Local government representatives worked together to develop actionable investment promotion plans tailored to their municipalities, ensuring that they can effectively attract and engage investors moving forward.#
