NORTHERN Mindanao chapter of the Councilors League of the Philippines (PCL) on Tuesday adopted its resolution, endorsing a Mindanao economic summit to be held in Cagayan De Oro City anytime next month.
In a June 14 resolution, signed by its PCL chairman, Cagayan de Oro City Councilor George S. Goking, the league has endorsed to the PCL National Board for its approval to conduct a Mindanao-wide economic summit once all elected officials are sworn into office.
“Davao City has been consistent in conducting regional summits not only to PCL but also to other elected officials and other leagues,” said Goking.
Goking emphasized the need for the government’s policymakers “to sit down and discuss the looming economic crisis.”
He said they have to draw up both short-term and long-term solutions before the situation could aggravate.
“Events like PCL Mindanao Summit gives opportunity to explore and provide economic growth not just in Region-10 but also to the other parts in Mindanao,” Goking stressed.
Goking, who also the City Council's committee on Trade and Commerce and on Ways and Means chair said the economic problem has to be addressed right away as they could not wait any longer or it will exacerbate and winding out of control.
Goking who also sits on the PCL national board as a regional delegate said PCL Region-10 is capable in hosting a successful event like the PCL Mindanao Summit.
He is also to take his oath as one of the interim members of PCL national board next week.
If the PCL national board agrees to hold the summit here, Goking pledged to personally make all the necessary arrangements for the convention site and accommodation.
“All over the country, PCL has 17,000 members, as we are targeting around 5000 to 7000 on this event to be held in Cagayan de Oro,” said Goking.
He said the summit should be held at the earliest in July, as for them must not be delay the event and need concrete solutions like to recover the economy.
“More jobs breaks, a stable consumer and MSMEs protection are among the keys to fully reviving the economy,” Goking said.
Other important issue, according to Goking that the new government must focus is on the continued fuel and food price increases.
“Continued surge in oil prices could affect consumption patterns in the different cities in the country and may in turn impact economic growth,” he said.
He explained that the government should revisit the oil deregulation law and check if it can be amended to suit current demands like the pandemic to oil price increases.
“The Summit will serve as a venue to present the overview of the real Mindanao-wide economic situation now,” said Goking adding that generate and discuss consensus attendant to the problem and the corresponding immediate solutions.
The summit will assure the general public of definitive measures taken not just by the government but also by the invited stakeholders. (Ben Balce)
