PRESS   RELEASE 

            National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director General  and Secretary of Economic Planning  Dante  B. Canlas  will be the  Guest of Honor and  Speaker in Zamboanga del  Norte’s 49^th founding anniversary on June 2, 2001.    This   is in  response  to  the invitation of  ZDN Gov.  Isagani B. Amatong.   The   said activity  will be held at the Plenary Hall of the ZDN Convention and  Exhibition Center.   It will be   attended by the City and Municipal Mayors of   ZDN,    heads of  provincial departments and   private sector representatives.

            Secretary   Canlas   was   the Deputy Director General of NEDA during the  Ramos Administration.  He holds a PhD in Economics, and  has  spent many years  teaching   at the University  of  the Philippines.

  DG  Canlas   will  discuss  the topic on  Agri-Industrialization, a  Potent  Development  Strategy  at   the   Local  Level.   One of the ways to alleviate poverty is the  development   of the agricultural sector, in which majority of  the  population depends.   Agri-industrialization   encompasses   the   goals  of  meeting  the food requirements  of  the residents, as well as the raw material  needs of the local  industries.    The provision of necessary infrastructure facilities such as farm-to-market roads and irrigation facilities, as well as   credit and  marketing  support  are  part  of the  National Leadership’s  strategies to  bring progress  to  the  countryside.   The goals of the Medium Term Philippine Development Plan (MTPDP), which NEDA led in the  finalization,  are sustainable development and growth with social equity. (Susan  C. Valerio, NEDA-IX).