Summit focuses on opportunities and investments in Batangas

  • 15th Oct 2019

Batangas Governor Hermilando “Dodo” Mandanas emphasized the groundbreaking development and investments that the province has capitalized on during the Batangas Development Summit 2019 (BDS) on January 25 at the Lima Park Hotel, Lima Commercial Estate, Malvar, Batangas.

"In the coming years, Batangas is seen to continue to play its significant part in the growth and development of the country, which positions the Province at the threshold of being directly drawn into the circuit of various economic, social, and recreational activities - making this year's theme: "Live, Study, Work, and Have Fun in Rich Batangas" a very fitting and logical one,” he said.

Spearheaded by FAITH Colleges, this year’s BDS gathered more than 300 luminaries from the business, government, and academic sectors. The summit, through the various speakers it has invited and highlighted over the years, continues to focus on how to achieve and sustain inclusive growth, highlighting contributions, plans, and programs for the sustainable development of Batangas by both the private and public sectors.

Among the speakers this year were Ms. Ruth Novales, Vice President - Corporate Affairs of Nestlé Corporation; Arch. Antonio V. Turalba Jr., President and CEO of Active Group; Mr. Jose Omar L. Mercado, President of MERLO Group of Companies; and Ms. Michelle Fabie, Vice President of Prizm Corporation and Antara Corporation.

As part of the event, select business leaders also received the Key to Province of Batangas from the Governor. The Key is given by Gov. Mandanas to foreign nationals and select Filipino leaders with presence in the province of Batangas as a symbol of goodwill and appreciation for their support to the growth and development of the province. The awards were first given during the BDS 2017. This year’s awardees are:  EPSON Precision Philippines President, Mr. Takei Akifumi; Sohbi Kohgei Vice President, Mr. Toshihiro Matsuura; Littelfuse Incorporated Director of Philippine Operation, Mr. Siva Prasad Reddy; Nestle Lipa Factory Manager, Mr. Volker Hoeller; ARTNATURE Incorporated President, Mr. Hisayuki Kawazoe; Cargill Joy Poultry Meats Production Country Director, Mr. Juan Jose Gomez; and Solar Philippines Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Leandro Leviste.

During the closing remarks, Team First Asia Chairman and FAITH Colleges President Mr. Saturnino G. Belen, Jr. extended his appreciation to this year’s attendees. He also expressed his hopes in reinforcing and strengthening the branding in the region. “This year we had a good partnership with the Provincial Government of Batangas and probably, we can classify that as a private/public partnership in trying to come up with a branding effort [for the province]." He continued, "In the age of the internet, it is very easy for place names to be put on the internet and I think along the way,  very few [foreigners] know... where Batangas is,” In line with this, Gov. Mandanas and Mr. Belen went on a branding exercise to simplify the place names in Batangas. “...we wanted to simplify it into Batangas Bayshore Area, Batangas Lakeshore District, and Batangas Inland,” he concluded.

This year, FAITH Colleges once again organizes the BDS through Brainsparks, an innovation and startup hub engaged in mentoring, coaching, and incubating companies in the Philippines.

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