Government seen to aggressively promote investment in countryside
The new government of President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to aggressively ramp up economic activities in rural areas. The move will open opportunities for fresh investment in new industries in the rural areas affected. Industries such as IT-BPO and tourism have long been present in the provinces, but the government’s plan is to further move investments outside Metro Manila and the bustling business centers of Cebu and Davao. These are likely to be the ‘Next Wave Cities’ (NWCs) identified by the Department of Science and Technology and the IT and Business Process Association of the Philippines. These cities are Baguio, Cagayan De Oro, Dagupan, Dasmariñas, Dumaguete, Lipa, Malolos, Naga, Sta. Rosa and Taytay.
