Wednesday, February 27, 2008 City should offer more biz facilities: RDC By Joy Romares-Sevilla
AN OFFICIAL of the Regional Development Council (RDC) Southern Mindanao claimed that the City Government of Davao City should offer complimentary business facilities to attract more investors.
"There is more improvement that could be done for Davao City," said Nicasio Angelo Agustin, RDC Southern Mindanao vice-chair and regional director of the National Economic Development Authority (Neda).
Agustin said the city could possibly be surpassed by other cities in Mindanao in terms of growth especially by Cagayan de Oro City if these needed complimentary business facilities are not established.
"A lot of investors are willing to invest in Davao. In terms of human facilities, there's no problem. What the city needs to further establish are the complimentary business facilities, like for example air-conditioned taxis. In Cagayan de Oro wala kang makikitang non-air taxis," Agustin said.
Agustin said aside from offering complimentary business facilities, the City Government also needs to extend further support to investors in terms of incentives.
"Incentives for investments are important to attract more investors. It is better na yung mga investors ay mga taga-labas so that laging may additional money ang city," he said.
Meanwhile, Agustin said local government units (LGUs) in the region can best help the region's economy this year by providing support to the National Government in the improvement of their basic infrastructure, expansion of their extension services and basic social services.
"They have to also ensure a business climate such as reducing the cost of doing business in their locality to attract more investments," Agustin said, adding that LGUs should also be able to keep their development and land use plans abreast with the changes, rationalize their revenue codes with current fiscal demands and ensure the formulation of more responsive local policies.
