Priority Investment Areas

Doing business in Isabela provides investors with more than just profit gains. The province offers unique and exceptional treasures not found anywhere else – diverse natural resources, breath-taking sceneries, vibrant culture, adequate infrastructure network, and most importantly, warn and committed people.

Isabela occupies a strategic location between Cagayan Economic Zone and the national capital region of the country, Metro Manila. The province has productive forestlands and watershed areas and is known as the “Hybrid Cord and Rice Champion Producers of the Philippines.”

As the home of Magat Dam, the largest dam in Southeast Asia, Isabela is a major source of power and water supply for Northern Luzon and part of Metro Manila. It is also rich in mineral resources while having a lengthy range of coastlines totaling 147 kilometers from Maconacon to Dinapigue that are abundant in aquatic resources.

Foreign and local investors are invited to invest directly in greenfield projects and operating businesses by establishing new companies, subsidiaries or joint ventures in the following Priority Investment Areas of Isabela: 

Agri/Aqua-Based Industries

• Hybrid Rice Production and Processing
• Hybrid Corn Production and Processing
• Corn Oil Production
• Fruits and Vegetable Production and Processing
• Livestock and Poultry Production and Processing
• Dairy Production and Processing
• Mango Processing and Export Trading
• Sugarcane Production and Processing
• Feeds Production
• Banana Production and Processing
• Seaweed Production and Processing
• Sweet Sorghum Production and Processing
• Tilapia and Prawn Production and Processing

Forest-Based Industries

• Bamboo Industry Development
• Rattan Industry Development
• Woodworking/Furniture-Making

Tourism Development

• Eco-Cultural and Historical Tourism
• Tourism Accommodation and Facilities
• Tour Operators and Travel Agencies
• Health and Wellness Tourism
• Religious Tourism
• “Experiental” Tourism

Infrastructure Facilities

• Development of Cauayan Agro-Industrial Center and Special Economic Zone
• Airport Improvement
• Mini Hydro Power Generation
• Sugarcane Plantation for Biodiesel
• Sweet Sorghum Production for Ethanol
• Biomass Plant Development
• Ilaguen Hydro Power Plant
• Bio-Ethanol Plant Development
• Rehabilitation of Ilagan-Divilacan Road
• Construction of Pasa Small River Impounding Project
• Road Construction linking Coastal Towns to Mainland

Gifts, Toys and Housewares

• Basketry
• Pottery
• Ceramics
• Novelty Items
• Holiday Décor

Support and Allied Services/Knowledge-Based Industries

• Information & Communication Technology / Business Process Outsourcing
• Medical, Educational and Crisis Intervention Facilities

Regulatory Framework & Tax Incentives

The Government of the Republic of the Philippines has implemented a liberal program of fiscal and non-fiscal incentives to attract foreign capital and technology that complement local resources. Under the Omnibus Investments Code of 1987 (Executive Order 226), investors may enjoy certain incentives when investments are made in preferred areas found in the current Investment Priorities Plan (IPP).

Issued by the Philippine Board on Investments (BOI) annually, the IPP is a list of priority investment areas eligible for tax incentives in consultation with related government agencies and the private sector. Even if the activity is not listed in the IPP, an enterprise may still be entitled to incentives as long as at least 50% of production is for export (in the case of Filipino-owned enterprises), or at least 70% of production is for export (if majority foreign-owned enterprises or those with more than 40% foreign equity). In certain instances as indicated in the IPP, the BOI may completely or partially limit the incentives available to export products.

Under Book I of the Omnibus Investments Code, BOI-registered enterprises are given incentives in the form of tax exemptions and concession, as follows:

• Income tax holiday – exemption from corporate income tax for four years (non-pioneer projects) or six years (pioneer projects)
• Duty-free importation of capital equipment
• Additional deduction for labor expense equivalent to 50% of the wages of additional skilled and unskilled workforce
• Tax and duty-free importation of breeding stocks and genetic materials
• Tax credit on domestic breeding stocks and genetic materials
• Simplified customs procedures for the importation of equipment, spare parts, raw materials and supplies/exports of processed products
• Unrestricted use of consigned equipment
• Employment of foreign nationals in supervisory, technical or advisory positions
• Exemption from taxes and duties on imported spare parts

Investment Incentives

Under Article VII, Sec. 18 on the proposed ordinance enacting the Investment and Incentive Code of Isabel, subject to the approval of the Board, a registered enterprise may be granted the following fiscal incentives:

• Free use of real properties owned by the Provincial Government of Isabela for the period of ten (10) years subject to the condition that any and all improvements introduced and attached therein shall automatically accrue to the provincial government;
• Exemption from payment of basic real property taxes, as far as the share of the provincial government is concerned for the period of five (5) years for:
• Equipment or devices or other equipment for pollution control, environmental protection equipment and structures, fire protection and equipment structures flood control and mitigation structures as well as water treatment and purification equipment and structures for the period of five (5) years from date of commencement of business operation;
• Lands, regardless of classification, if used exclusively for parking, roads and other pathways provided that the same be open for use by the general public;
• Exemption from transfer taxes of real properties transferred in favor of the applicant;
• Exemption from franchise tax for a period of five (5) years;
• Free provincial health care enrolment, first-month premium, for all employees of new enterprises and additional employees of expanding/ modernizing/ diversifying enterprises;
• One-time first-year enrolment to the PNB Gen Insurance for all employees of new enterprises and additional employees of expanding/ modernizing/ diversifying enterprises.

Registered Enterprises may avail of the following Non-Fiscal Incentives:

• Government registration assistance;
• One-stop documentation center and application processing;
• Labor recruitment, support for industrial peace through arbitration, mediation and reconciliation efforts;
• Assurance of peace, order and safety;
• PGI sponsored manpower development training to enhance workers skills; 
• Cooperative organization for employees and workers;
• Extension of appropriate technical assistance and services;
• Assistance in securing power and water supply connections;
• Assistance in site selection and negotiation for road right of way.

Prospective Investors: 5 Simplified Steps in Opening a Business in Isabela

• Prospective Investors must write a letter of Intent to the Governor which includes the following information:
1. Letter of Introduction and Intent
2. Project Brief
3. Articles of Incorporation
4. Other necessary documents
• Letter of Application shall be submitted to the Local Investment Board copy furnish the Isabela Investment Council and to the Provincial Investment Promotion Center.
• Feasibility Study of the proposed investment project shall be submitted for review, reference and approval to ensure that the proposed investment project is consistent with the Provincial Priority Investment Areas.
• Environmental Clearances shall be required from the prospective investors such as;
1. Clearance from NCIP
2. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
3. Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC)
• Get clearance from the Protected Area Management Board (PAMB) of the province, as the province has around 359,486 has. under NIPAS category declared as the Northern Sierra Madre Natural Park, Fuyot Springs Natural Park and the Tumauini Forest Reserve.

Forex Repatriation & Investment Protection

Foreign investors have the right to repatriate the entire liquidation proceeds of their investment in the currency in which the investment was originally made at the exchange rate prevailing at the time of repatriation. They also have the right to remit their earnings from the investment or such sums as may be necessary to meet the payment of interest and the principal on foreign loans and obligations arising from technological assistance contracts.

There shall be no expropriation by the government of the property represented by the investment of property of enterprises except for public use or in the interest of national welfare and defense, and upon payment of just compensation. In such cases, foreign investors or registered enterprises shall have the right to remit sums received as compensation for the expropriated property in the original currency at the prevailing exchange rate. Furthermore, there shall be no requisition fo the same property except in the event of war or national emergency and only for the duration. Just compensation for the requisitioned property may also be remitted in the original currency at the prevailing exchange rate.

In addition, investors are accorded the following under various agreements entered into by the Philippines and foreign states:

• Free transaction of capital – the Philippines allows all transfers relating to investments to be made freely and without delay into and out of its territory, subject to compliance with certain requirements imposed by laws and regulations.
• National treatment – the Philippines treats all investments equally whether made by foreign or local investors to the extent allowed by Philippine laws.
• Fair and equitable treatment – the Philippines affords to investments fair and equitable treatment and full protection and security in accordance with customary international law.

Foreign Investment Channels

Anyone, regardless of nationality, is welcome to do business and invest in the Philippines, in almost all areas of economic activities provided these are not listed in the Foreign Investments Negative List (FINL) of the Foreign Investments Act of 1991 (Republic Act 7042, as amended by Republic Act 8179).

Foreign nationals are allowed to invest 100% equity in companies engaged in business subject to restrictions as prescribed in the FINL, a shortlist of investment areas which may be opened to foreign investors and/or reserved for Filipino citizens. If the proposed venture is not in an activity listed in the FINL, foreigners may invest up to 100% capital in a domestic entity if the paid-up capital is at least US$200,000.00, which may be lowered to US$ 100,000.00 if advanced technology is introduced or at least 50 direct employees are employed.

With or without incentives, doing business in the Philippines requires prior registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for corporations or partnerships, or the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for sole proprietorship. Other types of business enterprises that may be set up under foreign laws that require SEC/DTI registration are branch offices, representative or liaison offices, regional headquarters, and regional operating headquarters.

After SEC registration, enterprises seeking to remit profits and dividends or repatriate capital abroad may register their inward remittance with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). For this purpose, BSP rules and regulations covering procedures for registration of foreign investments are observed.

The Foreign Investments Act recognizes the rights of former natural born Filipinos. They are granted the same investment rights as Filipino citizen in activities such as cooperatives, thrift banks, rural banks and financing companies. Those who have the legal capacity to enter into a contract under Philippine laws may be transferees of private land to be used for business or other purposes up to a maximum area of 5,000 square meters in the case of urban land or three hectares in the case of rural land.