Luna, Apayao - Governor Elias C. Bulut Jr. reiterated his firm stand on the exploration of the province's natural resources as a way to gain potential investment opportunities in the future.
Apayao is one of the provinces in the Cordillera with great potential of renewable power source.
In a meeting with the Apayao Council of Indigenous Elders (ACIEs) before the oath taking ceremony for the newly installed Indigenous People Mandatory Representative (IPMR) today, January 24, 2023 in Provincial Capitol, he explained that there is a need to provide employment opportunities to yApayaos after the completion of several infrastructure projects and that Apayao is already on par with other provinces in terms of infrastructures and facilities.
"There is a need for us to innovate and come up with better ways to create revenue in the province. It is now the highest time to tap the potential of our natural resources to be able to move forward to the next step of our developmental agenda." Bulut said.
Bulut then underscored the long term effects of the proposed renewable energy projects in terms job creation, energy self-sufficience, revenue generation and all other investment opportunities that will benefit the province in the future.
"Nu maitap tayo iti natural resources ditoy province, in the next 30 to 50 years, uray awan tayon ton, maiguarantee tayo nga adda iti stable nga pagubraan iti ubbing tayo." he stated.
According to him, real property tax collection is also one factor that would greatly benefit from these proposed projects. "Awan met iti tax payer tayo nga dakkel ditoy province, ket nu mainayon dagita nga projects we can estimate almost a billion of added revenue in our real property tax collection. Bulut said adding that real property tax goes directly to the province's coffers which would then translate into more and better basic public services to the constituents.
He then challenged the IPMR and the indigenous elders to actively take part in the consultation process and in safeguarding the indigenous peoples rights to Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) to all the proposed programs of the government.
In can be noted that during the Regional Development Council meeting that the governor presided over, he floated the concept of exploring the natural resources as a way to gain investment potential of the region.
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