The SURUBLIEN Development Foundation
I. General Information
Story and Composition
The conceptualization and implementation of Brunei Darussalam-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines - East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) in 1994 was meant as a microcosmic Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) regional economic corporation (which was the answer to the North American Free Trade Area
[NAFTA] aggregation). Both aimed at promoting regional economic unity, the ultimate objectives being the abolition of tariff barriers; free flow of investments and goods, and cooperative production ventures as possible among the member-countries. The inclusion of Palawan as one of the participating provinces of the Philippines in the BIMP-EAGA, through primarily in tourism, created and imperative for the accelerated economic development of the province, with particular emphasis on the City of Puerto Princesa. Long relegated to the backwaters of progress on account of its geographic isolation, Palawan needs to speed up its own pace at least to achieve economic independence and self-reliance, if not parity with its neighboring provinces. Puerto Princesa City is the hub and nucleus of economic activities for mainland Palawan. Considered as the mainspring of efforts and central strategy, is the development of small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in the area, the SMEs widely recognized as the engines of economic growth in the Philippines. This house is the Surublien Development Foundation, a new entity created solely for the purpose. The Surublien Foundation is composed of individuals of various fields of expertise both in the business and the professions, people known of their vision and orientation towards development. Several known in their businesses, one is the University president, some are heads of officers, three are bank managers, and a few are in the academy. They are united not only in desiring economic progress of province, but also in wanting to assist the people towards this end. if only for this, the Surublien Foundation is off to a good start.
