Davao City (24 February) -- The slated public hearing for the review of the Investments Priorities Plan (IPP) for 2007 is very relevant as this will discuss the possible inclusion of the bio-fuels industry, the Board of Investments-Davao Extension Office (BOI-Davao) said.

The event, which is slated on February 26, from 8 am to 12 noon, at the Sultan Function Room of the Royal Mandaya Hotel, is aimed at getting the views of all investors in the region about the present IPP.

The highlight of the consultation will be the identification of areas of investments that the national government must promote further and give fat perks.

Another topic for discussion during the half-day event will be the incentives given to BOI-registered projects such as income tax holidays (ITH) for four to six years and duty-free importation of capital equipment and others.

Among the priority projects under the IPP are export, agri-development, tourism, infrastructure, and environment.

The BOI is urging all industry players to attend the said public hearing for them to share their ideas and suggestions.

BOI-Davao Extension Office chief Engr. Gil M. Dureza said that with the active participation of all the industry players/stakeholders, the agency would have a clear picture of what they will have to include or scrap from the 2006 IPP before President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo will sign it in May.

Dureza added that the activity give the industry players the chance to criticize the previous IPP, whether they want to add something in the list of preferred activities or delete something from any item of the plan.

“If there are changes to be made, then the BOI will debate on it whether to accept the suggestion of the industry players or not,” he said.