Success of the Cebu Investment Promotions Center

I recently read on the Net the opening remarks of Rex C. Drilon II, President of the Iloilo Economic Development Foundation and Chief Operating Officer of Ortigas & Company on the occasion of the launching of the book “Iloilo: A Rich and Noble Land.”

Drilon mentioned that the new Iloilo Investment Promotions Center (IIPC) was modeled after the tri-sectoral Cebu Investment and Promotions Center (CIPC) of Cebu city and province.

After 18 years, the Philippines and the world has finally noticed the efforts of CIPC. I remember several years back when I assisted CIPC in making their presentations. I was still in pony tails and fresh from college. Everyone then was still trying to get acquainted with the work involved. At the same time, they had to contend with a lot of criticisms from the public. But look at them now !

Of course, CIPC's success came with the help of other factors. The economic success of Cebu is also the result of positioning, serious planning, an industrious population and local governments which understand the needs of business. I've always known that electing the right government leaders (not voting based on irrelevant traits such as popularity, physical desirability, relationship etc.... traits that poor, uneducated Filipinos usually consider) is crucial to economic success.

I constantly get exasperated when some people in the country vote for "artistas" simply because they are popular or nice to them. Why vote for an inept person simply because he/she is nice to you? You are not looking for a wife, husband, boyfriend or girlfriend when you vote. You don't live in the same house with your mayor, governor or president. As long as candidates to government positions are capable and can perform their jobs well, what they are in private is none of our business.