BOI taps South Cotabato as Soccsksargen's premier investment hub
The Board of Investments (BOI) has sealed its first provincial partnership in Mindanao with the local government of South Cotabato, positioning the province as the premier investment hub in the Soccsksargen region.
In a statement, the BOI said it has signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with South Cotabato as aligned with the implementation of the government’s green lane program.
Under Executive Order (EO) No. 18, the green lane initiative seeks to expedite, streamline, and automate the processing of permits and licenses for strategic investments.
These investments cover “highly desirable” projects, foreign direct investments, projects under the strategic investment priority plan (SIPP), and projects that promote innovation.
The MOA also embodies joint development and promotion of investment opportunities, as well as the improvement of the role of local government units (LGUs) in investment facilitation and aftercare services.
Under the agreement, the BOI will provide technical and promotional support to the province through investor matching activities, assistance in enhancing the Local Investment Incentives Code (LIIC), and specialized training programs for capacity building.
In turn, South Cotabato is tasked with maintaining updated investment data and designating focal persons to ensure seamless coordination with BOI’s One-Stop Action Center for Strategic Investments (OSAC-SI).
“This agreement embodies the national government’s whole-of-government approach in empowering local governments in attracting strategic investments that drive sustainable and inclusive economic growth,” said BOI Investments Assistance Center (IAC) Executive Director Bobby Fondevilla.
“It positions South Cotabato as a resilient and competitive province,” he emphasized.
According to the BOI, South Cotabato’s investment landscape spans agribusiness and agro-industrial ventures, sustainable ecotourism, manufacturing, renewable energy, information and communications technology (ICT), and healthcare infrastructure.
The agency added that another key investment opportunity is through responsible mining development.
The province holds about 2.2 billion tons of copper reserves and 2.4 million tons of gold deposits, it said.
“With its abundance of natural resources, strategic location in Mindanao, supportive local leadership, and steadily growing business climate, the province continues to position itself as a truly investment-ready destination,” said Fondevilla.