The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), which is the country’s largest business organization, has named Camarines Sur (CamSur) as the “most business-friendly LGU (local government unit)” this 2026, bolstering what CamSur Gov. LRay Villafuerte described as this Bicol province’s image as a premier investment hub and creator of jobs in the Philippines.
“We are deeply honored to receive this prestigious national recognition from the PCCI,” Villafuerte said. “This special citation is not just an award; it is an affirmation of our vision for CamSur—and an inspiration for us to work even harder with our people to make a real difference in the lives of Camsureños.”
“I have always believed that a strong economy creates opportunities, and opportunities change lives. That is why we continue to position CamSur as a province that welcomes and values businesses, investors, entrepreneurs and tourism development,” Villafuerte said.
Villafuerte said that with P4.5 billion in cash and fund balance against P5.17 billion in current operating income, CamSur now holds the strongest cash position of any province in the Bicol Region—setting what fiscal analysts describe as a regional benchmark for sustainability and aggressive savings retention.
For him, the PCCI recognition “strengthens our resolve to continue building a more competitive, investment-friendly, progressive, and prosperous CamSur.”
“To our investors, entrepreneurs, business owners and development partners—thank you for believing in CamSur. We value your investments, your confidence, and your contribution to our province’s growth,” he said.
“And to our fellow provincial government officials and our employees, this recognition belongs to all of us. Let it inspire us to raise our standards, work harder, and deliver even better public service,” he added.
He pointed out that, “The PCCI award is a strong impetus for us to continue working tirelessly to bring more investments, more jobs, more opportunities, and a better quality of life for all Camsureños.”
Villafuerte thanked the PCCI chapter in CamSur for receiving the citation on behalf of the provincial government, during the 2026 Most Business-Friendly LGU Awards at The Manila Hotel in Manila, which was held on Oct. 13-14 as part of the 52nd Philippine Business Conference and Expo (PBC&E).
On its website, the PCCI said the PBC&E is its flagship annual event that “convenes the country’s foremost business leaders, policymakers, economists, development partners, and key stakeholders to help shape a shared agenda for national economic growth and competitiveness.”
A former three-term congressman prior to his comeback as governor in last year’s midterm national polls, Villafuerte said the provincial government has opened wide CamSur to “investments because investments create businesses. Businesses create jobs. Jobs provide income, dignity, and opportunities for our people to build better lives for their families.”
Villafuerte explained, though, that the provincial government “cannot help uplift the lives of Camsureños and sustain—and even boost—the province’s economic progress through government programs alone. We need a thriving private sector working hand-in-hand with the government to generate investments, employment, economic activity, and lasting prosperity.”
Villafuerte, who was a successful young exporter prior to joining public service in 2004, noted that, “having been an entrepreneur before entering electoral politics, I understand firsthand the challenges, risks and sacrifices involved in building and running a business. I also understand how important it is for the government to be a partner, not an obstacle, to investors and entrepreneurs.”
He said he has “always approached the management of CamSur with the mindset and discipline of a CEO (chief executive officer)—setting clear goals, demanding efficiency, encouraging innovation, making decisive actions, and focusing on measurable results.”
But there is one fundamental difference between a CEO in the corporate world and in the public sector, he said, stressing that, “in a private corporation, success is measured largely by profits and dividends or returns to shareholders; whereas in the government, success is measured by how many lives are improved, how many opportunities are created, and how much better the lives of the people—our constituents—have become on our watch.”
When Villafuerte first assumed the governorship in 2004, CamSur was ranked the 39th poorest province in the Philippines.
In August, the CamSur LGU formally launched CamSur Uptown, which is a 200-hectare master-planned global city that is envisioned to be a seat for business, governance and investments outside the national capital and an infrastructure hub for information technology (IT) in the country.
But after two decades of institutional continuity across three Villafuerte administrations—anchored on business-friendly policy, public-private partnership, fiscal discipline, and human capital investment—CamSur emerged as the 3rd richest province in 2024—according to the Commission on Audit (COA)—with total assets of P33.23 billion and networth of P28.56 billion.
Villafuerte said that with P4.5 billion in cash and fund balance against P5.17 billion in current operating income, CamSur now holds the strongest cash position of any province in the Bicol Region—setting what fiscal analysts describe as a regional benchmark for sustainability and aggressive savings retention.
In August, the CamSur LGU formally launched CamSur Uptown, which is a 200-hectare master-planned global city that is envisioned to be a seat for business, governance and investments outside the national capital and an infrastructure hub for information technology (IT) in the country.
The Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA) has green-lighted an almost seven-hectare special economic zone (SEZ) at the CamSur Uptown, in a development that Villafuerte said will clear the way to an even larger stream of capital into this province that is becoming one of the country’s investment magnets outside Metro Manila.
During his three terms as congressman prior over the 2016-2025 period, Villafuerte had co-authored a slew of business-friendly laws, including Republic Act (RA) No. 10963, or the “Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act”; RA 11534, or the “Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises (CREATE) Act; RA 11032, or the “Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Act;” RA 12009 or the “New Government Procurement Act (NGPA);” and RA 12063, or the Enterprise-Based Education and Training (EBET) Framework Act.”
