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Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Mandaue ‘to stay business-friendly’
Even with the pending transfer of one of Mandaue City’s pioneering business firms, the local government still takes pride in its image as a business-friendly city.
Mayor Thadeo Ouano yesterday said the city’s economy has grown and that many investors still want to do business in Mandaue.
He issued a press statement citing a report from the Regional Development Council, which states that Mandaue City was the fastest growing economy in the region in 2005.
“For those who are planning to leave our city, it’s a mistake,” Ouano said.
In an interview yesterday morning, Ouano said he can’t do anything about it if industrialist Norberto Quisumbing Jr. decides to move out of Mandaue.
“Di ta kapugong niya (We can’t stop him),” he said.
Ouano said the City has been trying to serve the business sector by shortening the process in permit applications.
He reiterated his high regard for Quisumbing, saying the title of adopted son given to the businessman is a manifestation of his respect for the man.
In an interview over the weekend, Quisumbing said his company will be moving outside Mandaue and transfer to its plant in
Compostela because of the “wrong kind of environment.”
He even invited other business establishments “who are scared” to move out and transfer to other towns and cities where the local governments are friendly.
Quisumbing, who poured his investments in Mandaue when its population was only 30,000, is chairman of the Norkis Group of Companies.
Norkis Group has expanded into a network of 29 companies, including Norkis Trading Co. Inc.
For over 40 years, Norkis has been a major contributor to the economy of Mandaue City through the employment of residents and taxes paid to the local government.
Quisumbing said that when Mandaue lowered its taxes and granted tax holidays during the term of mayor Ariston Cortes, many businesses went to Mandaue.
“The leadership listened to business and they always asked us what we think. They were receptive to ideas that would be good for the business community and to Mandaue itself,” Quisumbing said.
His company occupies a large piece of property on A.S. Fortuna St., a prime area near M.C. Briones Highway.
In the interview last Saturday, Quisumbing said there are many businesses “moving out.”
Ouano disagrees.
“Business confidence continues with the steady rise of gross receipt from P44 million in 2001 to P72 billion in 2005. It is twice as fast as the national average,” the mayor said in the press statement.
He said he will do everything he can to sustain the City’s economic growth.
As for talks that Quisumbing will back Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz’s bid if she runs for mayor, Ouano said it is nothing new.
He is aware that Quisumbing has been supporting Ruiz.
The mayor is fielding his son, Thadeo Jovito, to be his successor. (AAG)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (September 5, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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