The transformation of Camarines Sur from one of the country’s poorest to the third richest province was presented in a high-level forum co-organized by the University College London (UCL) Centre for Sustainable Business and the Philippine Embassy in London.
The event, A Public-Private Partnership for Water Security: The CamSur–Veragon Case Study, highlighted how a visionary local government unit (LGU) teamed up with Veragon to deploy atmospheric water generation (AWG) technology—delivering clean water access, creating jobs, and accelerating industrialization through a low-risk, high-impact PPP model.
Camarines Sur Gov. Luis Raymund Villafuerte took center stage at the forum as he presented the dramatic transformation of his province and its success in pioneering public-private partnerships (PPP), specifically its landmark partnership with Italian water-tech company Veragon.
Before an international audience of policymakers, academics, diplomats, and investors, Villafuerte shared how CamSur rose from being the 39th poorest province in 2004 to now ranking 3rd richest in assets and 2nd in revenue generation among all Philippine provinces, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF).
“This transformation was driven by good governance, strong and consistent leadership, business-friendly policies, and continuity,” said Villafuerte, who is also the president of the National Unity Party (NUP). “These are also the exact conditions that make CamSur one of the most attractive places for PPPs to thrive.”
Now formally studied and published by UCL, the Veragon project serves as a replicable blueprint for PPPs in other regions in the Philippines and across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Villafuerte also emphasized the Philippines’ evolving business climate, citing several key reforms:
The Amended Public Service Act, allowing 100 percent foreign ownership in key sectors;
The Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises Act (CREATE), offering lower taxes and fiscal incentives for strategic investors;
The Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Act, streamlining permits and processes; and
The Camarines Sur PPP Ordinance of 2010, the first of its kind among LGUs in the Philippines.
Beyond PPPs, Villafuerte outlined the bold future of CamSur:
Development of CamSur Uptown, a new smart city district;
The Naga Airport upgrade and expansion of tourism infrastructure;
The province’s position as the renewable energy capital of the Philippines, now hosting the country’s largest offshore wind project led by Denmark-based Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP), along with many other proposed renewable energy projects; and
Digital transformation initiatives to build a “smarter, greener, healthier, and AI-ready” CamSur.
“Camarines Sur is no longer just an agricultural province—it’s a launchpad for innovation and sustainable growth,” Villafuerte declared. “From CamSur, a spark can light the whole nation—and the world.”
The event featured remarks from Philippine Ambassador to the UK Teodoro Locsin Jr., UCL Prof. Paolo Taticchi, and Veragon CEO Dr. Alessio Lucattelli.
