The Maribojoc-Local and Regional Development (LRED) program underwent a review and re-planning using the Comprehensive Assessment (COMPASS) tool last August 4-5 at the LGU Parola Hall, San Juan, Poblacion, Maribojoc. Local business entrepreneurs and proprietors, sectoral representatives and the development players in the municipal government comprised the participants for the tourism industry investment promotion for sustainable economic development in Maribojoc. Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Bohol Provincial Director Nanette Arbon shared to LRED partners the relevance of being on familiar terms with the development programs of the town. According to Arbon, an active community should match the active leadership of the municipal government.

Miriam I. Bacalso, Central Visayas Senior Regional Coordinator of the GIZ (Deutshe Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit or German Development Cooperation), oriented the participants on the SMEDZEP program for small and medium enterprises in partnership with DTI. Bacalso identified tourism and agri-business as Maribojoc’s economic driver and that the municipal government and the people should work for its development. Municipal councilor Florante B. Evasco welcomed the participants during the opening program and updated them on the status of the different projects of the municipal government. Engr. Maria Nenita R. Chiu, MPDC and Maribojoc LRED focal person, presented the municipal profile, Rapid Economic Appraisal (REA) results, the burning issues and quick wins, the financial key improvements and other economic indicators since the LRED project implementation.

Rene B. Solis of GIZ discussed the statement of objectives and the workshop flow; the COMPASS proper followed thereafter with moderators from the GIZ and DTI offices of Siquijor and Bohol. The DTI-Siquijor team was composed of provincial director Nimfa M. Virtucio Marcelina Abing and Virginia A. Fernandez while Maria Soledad Balistoy, Vierna Teresa Ligan, Jerome John J. Gabin, Julius Locot and Nita A. Balaba represented DTI-Bohol. Mayor Leoncio B. Evasco, Jr., in his message, believed that for any local government to succeed, it has to give focus to the people’s livelihood. He articulated that the LRED-COMPASS process is very important in order to assess projects, the interventions made and its results then determine the weak points and address these concerns. Evasco reiterated that the municipal government’s priority is the integrated organic farming demo farm that will highlight the natural farming system.