The Board of Investments (BOI) and the City Government of General Santos have strengthened their partnership to accelerate investment promotion and enhance investor services following the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) aimed at improving coordination between national agencies and local government units.
The agreement formalizes the commitment of both institutions to advancing inclusive, sustainable, and regionally balanced economic growth.
The MOA was signed by Lorelie G. Pacquiao, Mayor of General Santos City, and Bobby G. Fondevilla, Executive Director of the BOI Investments Assistance Center, representing Trade Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino S. Rodolfo.
Under the agreement, the BOI and the city government will collaborate to strengthen investment facilitation efforts, align national development priorities with local initiatives, and improve coordination between national government agencies and local government units.
The partnership also supports key investment facilitation initiatives, including the Green Lanes for Strategic Investments, which aim to streamline permitting and licensing processes for qualified projects. By adopting BOI best practices and strengthening coordination with national government agencies, General Santos City aims to further enhance its capacity to provide efficient, transparent, and investor-friendly services.
Fondevilla emphasized that strong collaboration between the national government and LGUs plays a crucial role in improving the country’s investment climate.
Mayor Pacquiao welcomed the strengthened partnership with the BOI, noting that it will help attract more investments and generate employment opportunities in the city.
Known as the “Tuna Capital of the Philippines,” General Santos City remains a key contributor to the country’s fisheries industry and is the largest producer of sashimi-grade tuna in the Philippines.
Beyond fisheries, the city continues to attract investments across sectors such as hospitality, wholesale and retail trade, real estate, manufacturing, and information and communications technology, supported by modern telecommunications infrastructure and strong connectivity by air, land, and sea.
Currently, the BOI has partnership agreements with 40 local government units nationwide. Last year, the agency signed MOAs with the provinces of South Cotabato, Bataan, Camarines Sur, and Nueva Vizcaya, as well as the city of Iriga.
These partnerships highlight the BOI’s continuing efforts to strengthen collaboration with local governments to promote investment opportunities and improve the ease of doing business across the country.