TACLOBAN CITY - Five local government units in the fourth district of Leyte have joined hands to promote tourism and development in their area.
TACOY with Sen. Mark Villar. (FB)
Matag-ob Mayor Bernandino Tacoy, a neophyte politician, said that the alliance was conceptualized for three municipalities - Matag-ob, Isabel, and Palompon - during their seminar for newly elected officers.
"Since I just won this recent election, I wanted to seek help and collaborate with other local chief executives. Luckily, Mayor Edgardo Cordeño of Isabel and Mayor Ramon Oñate of Palmopon said they were willing to help and teach me how to run our town," he said.
Oñate said they eventually came up with a group, which they institutionalized under the Local Government Code to maximize their resources and strengths to be able to come up with a greater plan for the benefit of their people.
"Every municipality has its strength. Palompon is known for Kalanggaman Island. After you go to Kalanggaman, we can fill in activities and other municipalities can share their tourist destinations," he said.
He added that they also want to seek assistance from national government agencies to meet their goals.
"If we will not work as one, it will be really difficult since we are just small municipalities."
Cordeño said there is no other purpose of the alliance but to unite, develop, and promote tourism for the benefit of their constituents.
"We have different ideas yet we are united for a common purpose for our individual municipalities. We also welcomed Mayor Sixto dela Victoria of Albuera and Mayor Rolando Villasencio of Merida," he said.
For future investors, the LGUs each have their investment code, which provides layers of capitalization that give tax incentives and encourage local employment.