Philippines should invest more on its people – Lopez

CEBU, Philippines — The Philippines should be investing more in its people and its communities to make economic growth more inclusive.

This was how former environment secretary Gina Lopez described how the country can take advantage of its potential in terms of economic gains.

Despite its unprecedented economic growth in recent years, Lopez said Philippines' poverty problem remains prevalent.

"Our people remain poor," she pointed out.

"We're not investing in our country so that our people will benefit. We're sending our people overseas and that's how we make our money," the environment and social activist said during the recent general membership meeting of the Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) in Cebu City.

"It's not the economy, not the information highway, it's not the money that make a country great. It's the people. And if people are so important, why are we sending the parents of our future generations overseas and that's how we make our money and they're not even treated well," Lopez stressed as she proposed how the country can take advantage more of its economic potential. 

"Main trust of economic growth is area development. Area development is taking a certain area and developing it further that will benefit the people of that area," Lopez explained.

"You take the strength and beauty of that area and invest in it for the people to benefit. And even if investors go there people should benefit," Lopez further asserted.

"The foundation of economic growth should be caring for the people. It should not just be about money," she noted.

In Cebu, one of the communities that Lopez has planned to develop is Kinatarcan Island in Sta. Fe town in Bantayan Island.

Recently, she had asked the Cebu provincial government to allow her to develop Kinatarcan Island that would benefit the local residents.

Lopez had said she would work with the provincial government to invest in different areas in the province.

She was considering a public-private partnership (PPP) to develop Kinatarcan Island.

Lopez said that while the country is potentially rich, most of the local residents remain poor.

She said Cebu has 120 islands with beautiful places like in Aloguinsan town and Kinatarcan Island.

“So it should be zero poor in Cebu,” Lopez said.

Also, one of Lopez’s target areas is the province-owned lagoon in Sitio Laaw, Barangay Hagdan by developing a “lato” or sea grapes plantation. Lopez also plans to develop the beach.

Through the Economic Enterprise Council (EEC), the provincial government had appropriated P1 million in January this year for the development of Kinatarcan. The development project is still ongoing.