INQUIRER FILES
TACLOBAN CITY – The provincial government of Northern Samar has officially institutionalized its “green lane policy,” becoming the first local government in the country to adopt an investor-centered framework aimed at streamlining business processes and attracting strategic investments.
Northern Samar Gov. Edwin Ongchuan signed Ordinance No. 7 on June 13 in the presence of investors and development partners during an investment forum held in line with the province’s 60th founding anniversary celebration.
READ: N. Samar pilots ‘green lane’ for big investments
The green lane policy, conceptualized by Ongchuan and implemented by the Provincial Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office led by Jhon Allen Berbon, aims to transform Northern Samar into a competitive destination for renewable energy and other high-impact investments.
“This is more than an efficiency upgrade. It is a deliberate shift toward a pro-investment governance model that values responsiveness, accountability, and sustainability,” Ongchuan said during the signing.
With the policy now institutionalized, Northern Samar is aiming to shift its narrative from one of economic disadvantage to a rising hub for sustainable and investor-friendly growth in Eastern Visayas, the governor said.
At the core of the policy is a “single point of entry” system where investment proposals are first processed at the provincial level before being coordinated with the appropriate municipal local governments.
This innovation aims to reduce bureaucratic delays and ensure faster turnaround times.
The ordinance also introduces simultaneous permit processing, allowing requirements to be addressed in parallel rather than sequentially, and grants the provincial government authority to issue permits for projects classified as strategic, particularly in the renewable energy sector.
Beyond streamlining procedures, the green lane policy provides a comprehensive package of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives.
These include exemptions from business taxes, real property taxes, and permit fees for up to five years.
Non-fiscal incentives include investment promotion, marketing support, investor servicing assistance, and aftercare programs.
The policy has not gone unnoticed at the national and international levels.
President Marcos has twice recognized the initiative—first in July 2024 and again in March 2025—as a model for ease of doing business.
International financial institutions such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank have also lauded the ordinance, endorsing it as a blueprint for other local governments and a potential standard for future policy-based grants. /jpv