I have written several articles on this. It is, however, important to write on it again because a major event was held yesterday that is relevant to this topic.

Yesterday’s Eastern Visayas Export Congress held at the DPWH Computer Center, Palo, Leyte is a bold move to help exporters in the region improve their businesses.

After some pre-congress sessions where issues needing government action were presented, many agencies with projects and policies committed to make exporting easier thus making export products more competitive.

The commitments in the form of “scorecards” were those concerning just about all government agencies particularly the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health, some agencies attached to the Department of Trade and Industry, the Philippine National Police, the Department of Science and Technology and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

With such a massive and concerted effort it is up to the business sector to respond and be the real “engine of growth” of our region’s economy. The commitments are really “doable”. Most of them do not require a lot of funds to implement (such as improving procedures).

With the enthusiasm shown by the public and private sectors in the Congress, things are looking good for exports in Eastern Visayas.