Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III receives a token from DTI Usec. Rowel S. Barba and FTSC Executive Director Emmanuel W. Ang

DTI Undersecretary Rowel S. Barba recently led a group of foreign trade officers for a two-day visit to explore the potential key investment areas of the city and province of Iloilo, particularly on possible trade with other countries.

Barba said that their visit to Iloilo was “to know more about the developments in the area so we can assist them promote the province and the city for investments and maybe for possible trade links with other countries.”

He said that prices of real estate here increased tremendously and there is not enough office space for business process outsourcing. Barba was optimistic “developers will be able to come up with additional office space the soonest possible time so more companies can come.”

While, Barba said that “a lot more improvement is needed, especially in terms of production” in the manufacturing sector. “But hopefully we can create some products from the region which can be exported abroad.”

Barba was joined by Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC) Executive Director Emmanuel Ang and four other trade services officers – Kenneth T. Yap, Eric C. Elnar, Roberto B. Mabalot, Jr., and, Clariza Mae A. Columna.

The group first visited Iloilo City Hall for a courtesy call with Mayor Jose Espinosa III on Tuesday and met with the officials and representatives of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Iloilo Chapter, and Iloilo Federation of Information Technology, among others.

DTI VI Asst. Regional Director Ermelinda P. Pollentes presented the trade and investment opportunities in Region VI. They also visited the Fabrication Laboratory (DTI Shared Service Facility) at the Iloilo Science and Technology University, and Iloilo Business Park.

Barba and team likewise met with the officials and representatives of PhilExport, Iloilo Business Club, Iloilo Economic Development Foundation Inc., Department of Tourism, local exporters and businessmen, among others.

DTI VI Regional Director Rebecca M. Rascon said that the visit is crucial for the local MSMEs in reaching out to more markets abroad. The FTSC is part of the Trade and Investment Promotions Group of DTI with trade representatives/ commercial posts in the Americas, Europe and ASEAN. ♦

Date of Release: 8 Mar 2019