THE number of businesses registered in Iloilo City increased in first quarter of 2018 compared to 2017 based on data of Business Permit and Licensing Office (BPLO).
There were 11,194 new applications and renewals of business permits released from January to March this year while there were only 10,000 posted last year.
The City Government expects an additional 2,000 new businesses in merchandising, trading and tourism-related industries this year.
BPLO recorded a total of 14,430 businesses in the city last year.
“Business owners trust Iloilo City that much because Ilonggos are very efficient and the economy is very dynamic. The increasing investments only show that there will be big enhancement when it comes to quality of life,” Mayor Jose Espinosa III stressed.
Espinosa had encouraged local businessmen to re-invest in the metropolis to address the rising demand of locators.
He also hopes for additional foreign investments from the expected success of Iloilo Trade Mission hosted by the British Chamber of Commerce Philippines to be held in the city on March 8 to 9, 2018.
“We have seen that there is a consistent increase of number of business. It only indicates that there are more investments here and it will help in the economy. It will give more employment for the Ilonggos,” BPLO head Norman Tabud said. (PR)