SAN JOSE, Antique – The American Association of Western Visayas, Inc. (AAWV) is exploring the possibility of having this region export agricultural products to the United States (US) island territory Guam.
AAWV president Nelson Ynion was in this province on July 28 to discuss with Gov. Rhodora Cadiao the proposal.
Ynion said he sought the help of Cadiao as the latter is the chairperson of the Regional Development Council.
According to Ynion, Western Visayas is an agricultural region that could provide major commodities like sugar, salt, rice, seafood, vegetable, and other agricultural products to the island territory.
Guam imports about 80% of its goods such as food, basic commodities and construction materials.
“This coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic physically devastated the economy of Western Visayas and the whole country. We are here to offer some recommendations for economic recovery because I know everything is down,” said Ynion.
The proposal, once established, will not only create a great relationship between this region and Guam but also provide job opportunities to Western Visayans who lost their jobs due to the virus outbreak.
Employment in this region decreased to 86.3% in April 2020 from 95.2% in 2019, according to the Department of Labor and Employment.
Antique had 7,270 locally stranded individuals and 853 repatriate overseas Filipino workers as of July 20. Many of them have no assurance they can return to their jobs.
The AAWV is also lobbying with Philippine Airlines and United Airlines to provide direct air services between Iloilo and Guam.
Ynion said the office of the Guam Governor, Guam Economic Development Authority (GEDA), Guam Visitors’ Bureau (GVB) and Mayors’ Council of Guam (MCG) are in favor of the two proposals. (With a report from Province of Antique/PN)
