Envoy sees investment opportunities in CNMI

Philippine Ambassador to the United States Ernesto Maceda yesterday said the Northern Marianas offers investment opportunities to Filipino businessmen in agriculture, computer and construction.

Maceda said former Philippine National Bank Governor Ed Espiritu has also recommended providing privately-funded agriculture development to the CNMI which many locals are not keen on venturing into.

Majority of the farmers in islands are Filipinos and Chinese, proof that it is not a popular job among locals. They produce vegetables and fruits sold mostly for local consumption. However, due to the unreliability of supply, many restaurants, hotels and supermarkets import these produce from the US mainland.

Local producers have noted that farmers in the CNMI need technical assistance to be able to produce quality fruits and vegetables that can be sold to hotels in the island. Such assistance would help improve their watermelon, cantaloupe or honey dew melon yields.

Maceda, who along with other Philippine officials are on island for a three-day visit, yesterday called on Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio as part of his familiarization tour of the US territories before he takes the premier diplomatic post in Washington.

At the same time, the former Philippine Senate president, said computer technology is one area that could be explored by Filipino businessmen, as he noted that such business in the CNMI is still at its “infancy stage.”

“This kind of activity would be good since more and more will be dependent on the imports,” he said.

With the expected rise in construction activities in the Northern Marianas due to the approval of multi-million Capital Improvement Projects, Maceda said the Philippines can help supply materials, particularly cement.

Earlier, Rep. Karl T. Reyes has been eyeing a Filipino construction firm to supply high quality pre-fabricated housing materials here at a cheaper price so that the CNMI can fast-track the construction of several homestead programs.

The Commonwealth is expecting massive construction activities to take off this year with the approval of more than $20 million worth of CIP projects. Another legislation is underway to implement another batch of key infrastructure projects, which form part of the seven-year master plan.

During his meeting with the governor, Maceda said he inquired about the CNMI’s master plan on tourism and agricultural development to find out the other areas in which the Philippines can make significant contributions. He said the chief executive expressed his appreciation to the contributions already made by the Filipinos in the community.

According to Maceda, he does not see any change in Philippine policy toward CNMI, saying “We have the same culture, tradition, so we’re comfortable with each other. The CNMI is very friendly to Filipinos.