Most Business-Friendly citation seen to spur more opportunities

MANILA -- The citation given to Bacolod as one of the most business-friendly local government units (LGUs) in the country is seen to spur more investment and employment opportunities for the Negros Occidental capital city.

City officials led by Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Administrator John Orola received the Special Citation as the Most Business-Friendly LGU (City Level 1) from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) at the 44th Philippine Business Conference held at Manila Hotel on Friday.

The business organization cited Bacolod City specifically for its active support to the national government road construction programs that will further expand the urban development in the city and create new growth centers.

The city was also recognized for sustaining livelihood through the creation of programs for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Leonardia, in an interview after the awarding rites, said the recognition is a validation of the many consistent efforts being made to make Bacolod a business-friendly city.

Leonardia said the “biggest and most prestigious” business organization in the country has recognized the potential of the city based on facts and figures, as he recalled its 20 percent growth in terms of business registration.

Figures do not lie and what can be seen physically around the city are all testimonies that Bacolod is really in an all-time high, the mayor said, adding that the policies implemented by the local government have made very easy for businesses to come in.

“Everything that we are doing is geared towards creating an environment that makes it conducive for business to grow,” Leonardia said.

In 2017, PCCI also awarded Bacolod as one of the finalists of the Most Business Friendly City award.

In the bid to achieve inclusive growth, Leonardia said the city government continues to go after business not just for profit sake “but we believe that more businesses and investments will eventually trickle down to those who need it.”

Leonardia said that if there are more businesses, more opportunities will be created and more of the people will be able to benefit mainly through employment.

“This citation has given us good credentials serving as a magnet for Bacolod especially in terms of attracting more business to thrive and expand here,” he said, adding that “we will continue to strive to ensure that the city is always ahead.”

With PCCI’s citation, the city government has assured the local business community of its "pledge" to sustain and further strengthen the business enabling environment of Bacolod.

Leonardia said they will remain steadfast on their “doing better than our best” motto. For that to happen, the business community must likewise be a direct participant.

Moreover, a local business leader said the effort to develop the Bacolod Economic Highway is aligned with the focus of the Duterte administration especially on infrastructure development through its "Build, Build, Build" project.

Metro Bacolod Chamber of Commerce (MBCCI) chief executive officer Frank Carbon, who was also present at the awarding rites, said this means that the city government has recognized the need for infrastructure support to expand business growth areas.

Carbon, however, said that road is not the only need but also power and water. Thus, city engineers should sit down with concerned utilities to complement the economic highway development.

“The government should prioritize infrastructure development as the business sector cannot go into it. It must be the government who will provide access an area they want to be developed,” he said, pointing out that there is really a need for stronger public-private collaboration for the aspired developments to be realized.

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