WV LEADERS MEET FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY PLANS AMIDST COVID19 CRISIS

Negros Occidental Governor Bong Lacson together with Western Visayas governors and mayors of highly urbanized cities met in Iloilo City last week and came up with a unified plan for the region’s economic recovery in the midst of crisis brought about by Covid19 pandemic.

All leaders agree that their unity will bring back the region’s economy slowly but surely, as they work together for economic revitalization and recovery.

They are also confident that among the regions in the country, Western Visayas has the best chance to recover because the local government units and their constituents have been very cooperative of the health protocols being implemented.

As of June 11, Region VI has 136 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and is presently under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ); majority of the positive patients are repatriated overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and locally stranded individuals (LSIs).

They agree to jumpstart the economy and provide jobs to lessen the unemployment rate, as well as implement projects through public-private partnership.

Negros Occ. Consultant and Economic Affairs and former representative Alfredo Benitez said that the region incurred about P20 billion losses in its gross regional domestic product (GRDP).

The meeting was attended by the governors and representatives from the provinces of Negros Occidental, Guimaras, Aklan, Antique, Capiz, and Iloilo and mayors and representatives of highly urbanized cities of Bacolod and Iloilo.