Cognizant of the need to drive inclusive growth at both the micro and macro levels, the Board of Investments (BOI) has launched its first nationwide business and investment education program for local investment officers through BOI–Linangin ang Obligasyon at Kakayahan tungo sa Aktibong Lokal na Pamumuhunan (BOI-LOKAL).
Held on October 13–14, 2025, at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Headquarters in Mandaluyong City, the two-day program brought together more than 70 local investment officers from major cities and provinces across Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. With the theme “Partners for Investment-Ready LGUs: Strengthening Local Investments for Inclusive Growth,” the initiative underscores BOI’s commitment to empower local government units (LGUs) as key partners in driving investment-led development aligned with national economic strategies.
Trade Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo emphasized the agency’s commitment to deliver “red carpet treatment, not red tape” for investors. He noted that BOI-LOKAL is designed to equip LGUs and their Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion Officers (LEDIPOs) with the tools and knowledge needed to perform at par with national investment promotion agencies, thereby enhancing the Philippines’ competitiveness as a global investment destination.
“Through BOI-LOKAL, we are building a network of capable local investment officers who can champion the ease of doing business, drive local investment promotion, and help strengthen the country’s overall competitiveness,” Rodolfo said.
ADB, DILG Underscore the Role of LGUs in Investment Facilitation
Key officials who joined the event included BOI Investments Assistance Service Director Ernesto Delos Reyes Jr., ADB Country Director Andrew Jeffries, DILG–Bureau of Local Government Development Director Anna Liza Bonagua, and BOI Industry Policy and Planning Service Director Sandra Marie Recolizado.
In his remarks, ADB Country Director Andrew Jeffries commended the Philippines’ strong reform momentum, noting that “the Philippines stands at an incredibly exciting juncture in its development journey, on the cusp of achieving Upper Middle-Income Country status.” He highlighted that LGUs serve as frontliners in investment facilitation, where their efficiency and responsiveness in processing business requirements often define investors’ first impressions of the country.
Strengthening Local Investment Capacity
The program featured plenary discussions and workshops on investment facilitation, governance, and policy alignment. Key sessions included a presentation on Executive Order No. 18 (Constituting Green Lanes for Strategic Investments), sharing of best practices from Ilocos Norte, Northern Samar, and South Cotabato, and a session led by DILG-BLGD on fostering transformative governance for sustainable local development.
A key highlight was the formal introduction of the Philippine Association of Local Investment Officers (PALIO) — a newly established network that aims to institutionalize collaboration, professional growth, and capacity-building among local investment officers nationwide.
Participants also engaged in an investor journey mapping workshop to identify barriers and strategies in investment facilitation, while underscoring the importance of the Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP) in guiding LGUs to prepare investment-ready sites in priority sectors.
As the country’s lead investment promotion agency, the BOI remains steadfast in strengthening local investment ecosystems, deepening collaboration with LGUs, and positioning the Philippines as a competitive, inclusive, and sustainable investment destination.