Former Vice Mayor elected as PEDCO President

Former Bacolod City Vice Mayor and Councilor Alex A Paglumotan has been elected as the new President of the Palawan Economic Development Council (PEDCO) BIMP-EAGA.

This was the result of the 20th Regular Session of the 11th Council of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, City of Bacolod held at the Bacolod City Government Centre.

Having served for two terms as PEDCO Chairman of the Board, Alex A Paglumotan now assumed the Presidency which is the highest executive position.

He is also designated as the Alternate Country Director for BIMP-EAGA.

Through the Palawan Vanguard News Agency, the President highlighted PEDCO’s mission in assisting the local government to engage with other BIMP-EAGA counterparts, namely Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia and Malaysia.

“It is not a small and easy goal; it means that we are part of the flow and trend in building a balanced economy, accordingly to the existing laws of the four EAGA countries,” he said.

The foundation for serving this goal, he said, has previously been established by the late President Fidel V. Ramos, where there are now clusters for trade and commerce, cultural exchange, tourism development, products and manufacturing development.

There were also business activities including conferences, business matchings and forums that have helped in coordinating and assisting each of the EAGA countries in serving the objective, which have now been carried out by their respective councils.

“The hallmark foundations here have been recognised by our government; and even in the lower house of congress, there is support for the BIMP-EAGA missions,” he said.

“Despite PEDCO being a private organisation in Palawan, it highly recognises and appreciates the government’s method as a partner in promoting the “economic landscape for prosperity” – in the province and in the city,” the President added.

“We are strongly committed (to serve this cause). PEDCO members and officers themselves came from different business backgrounds. Everyone believes that they can offer something that could lead Palawan to the right and beneficial direction,” he continued.

The long-term challenge, he added, lies in growing “economic cooperation” and in keeping up with the “advanced trading system” which have continued to develop and become strongly familiar overseas.

“And whatever the challenges that follow, the mandate given by fellow PEDCO members must be upheld,” the President said.

“Additionally, in regards to continuing to uphold the sworn responsibility, I accept the challenge to be the President of (PEDCO) in this new era,” he went on to say.

Waqiuddin Rajak
Bandar Seri Begawan
MEDIASTAR