BOI concludes CREATE MORE Roadshow in Davao, solidifying investment opportunities in Mindanao

DAVAO CITY—The Board of Investments (BOI) successfully concluded the final leg of its domestic CREATE MORE Roadshow series in Davao City on June 10, 2025, further reinforcing the government’s commitment to advancing Mindanao’s economic growth through strategic investment promotion.

The Davao event, which gathered around 100 industry stakeholders, members of the diplomatic corps, and government representatives, yielded investment interests from manufacturing, logistics, and food-security related activities. This outcome reflects the growing confidence of investors in the region’s expanding business landscape and the enabling environment created by the CREATE MORE Act.
BOI Director for Domestic Investment Promotion Service (DIPS) Rosario Dominguez opened the program, underscoring the agency’s ongoing role in facilitating investor engagement and addressing regional investment priorities. Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Leo Magno delivered the keynote address, highlighting the critical role of Mindanao in national development and the transformative potential of CREATE MORE in unlocking new growth corridors.

In photo: (Top) MinDA Secretary Magno delivering his keynote message; (Bottom) BOI IAC Exec. Director Fondevilla and BOI IPPS Dir. Recolizado addressing inquiries during the open forum

BOI Investment Policy and Planning Service (IPPS) Director Sandra Recolizado presented an overview of the Strategic Investment Priority Plan (SIPP), detailing priority sectors and activities aligned with national development goals and eligible for incentives under the CREATE MORE framework. Meanwhile, BOI Investment Assistance Center (IAC) Executive Director Bobby Fondevilla followed with a comprehensive briefing on the CREATE MORE Act’s provisions, emphasizing enhanced tax incentives, improved regulatory clarity, and flexibility measures designed to attract and retain investments.

The roadshow concluded with a robust open forum and synthesis led by Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region XI Acting Assistant Regional Director, Rachel Remitio, providing participants with an opportunity to clarify implementation concerns and discuss strategies to optimize the law’s benefits for Mindanao’s socio-economic advancement.

Enacted as Republic Act No. 12066, CREATE MORE enhances the country’s investment climate by extending tax incentives, introducing additional enhanced deductions, clarifying VAT zero-rating treatments, facilitating flexible work arrangements, and harmonizing local taxation. The roadshow series has been integral to ensuring stakeholders nationwide are well-informed and equipped to leverage these improvements to catalyze sustainable economic growth.

Recognizing the impact of the CREATE MORE initiative and the efforts of the BOI in driving it forward, MinDA Secretary Leo Magno emphasized Mindanao’s vital role in national progress, stating, “Mindanao is not just a footnote in the national economy, it is a growth engine with a capacity to transform industries, uplift communities, and power a more inclusive Philippines. There are not enough words for me to say thanks to those responsible for this roadshow.”

With the domestic roadshow series now complete, the BOI continues to Make it Happen in the Philippines as it prepares for upcoming international investment promotion missions aimed at showcasing the country as a competitive and resilient investment destination. -END-