ILOILO CITY – In a groundbreaking initiative, the provincial government of Iloilo has become the pioneer in Western Visayas by conducting an Entrepreneurial Leadership Orientation for local government units. The LEDIP Center Iloilo Province collaborated with the Local Government Academy and the Department of the Interior and Local Government to organize this significant event, which took place on August 14-15, 2023, at the historic Casa Real de Iloilo.
The first day of the orientation was exclusively dedicated to local chief executives in Iloilo, while the second day saw the participation of Local Economic Development and Investments Promotion Officers. Dr. Aser B. Javier, a respected Local Government Consultant, shared his valuable insights on entrepreneurial leadership and strategies for local economic development.
Engr. Juan Jovian Ingeniero, the Regional Director of DILG VI, emphasized the crucial role of an entrepreneurial mindset among local leaders in enhancing the quality of life for citizens. Aulynn B. Yue Sin, officer-in-charge of the LEDIP Center, highlighted the provincial government’s recognition of the importance of local economic development as a strategy to stimulate investments aligned with its social justice agenda.
Yue Sin stated, “Local chief executives and other local leaders are seen as the catalyst for economic development, and local government units that practice entrepreneurial leadership do not stand alone; they work together with local business and civil society groups to leverage the locality’s competitive advantage and opportunities for sustainable economic growth.”
She further added, “The conduct of the entrepreneurial leadership orientation for LGUs is one of the immediate and important actions to champion LED in the locality towards maximizing agricultural products, creating a value chain, and generating employment and investment for a robust, globally-competitive, and resilient province of Iloilo.”
Governor Arthur Defensor Jr. also took the opportunity to present his MoRProGrES Iloilo agenda, a comprehensive approach to development and progress for the entire province. The Defensor administration aims to focus on generating employment and business within the agricultural-tourism industry, developing growth areas, and cultivating a strong middle class that will become the backbone of the service industry and commercial establishments.
