BACOLOD City Mayor Evelio Leonardia said 2019 could be another record year for the city in terms of business registrations.
The mayor made the statement following reports that business permits registration for last January alone has already reached 16,994.
The figure is 923 higher than the 16,071 in the same period last year, or an increase of six percent based on the records of the Permits and Licensing Division.
“If this trend continues, we will have another record-breaking year. This is very encouraging and we will pursue this to the hilt. We appeal to all concerned to help us achieve this,” Leonardia said.
On December 31 this year, the city noted the highest ever total annual business registrations, 23,187.
This was also 4,370 or 23 percent higher compared to what was recorded in 2015.
“As we continue to innovate and find ways and means to improve the ease of doing business, we will not only please and retain existing ones but even attract new investments,” the mayor said, emphasizing that “this is the core of our intensified campaign to establish Bacolod as one of the most business-friendly cities in the country.”
In its campaign to foster a friendlier business climate in the city, the current administration has been holding a Business One-Stop Shop (Boss) every January to February to encourage more investors to register their businesses.
Under the Boss, business owners who can pay their permits taxes in full from January 1 to February 28 can avail of the 10-percent discount.
During his campaign, Leonardia has assured to restore business confidence and improve the business climate in the city.
As validation of this business-friendly mode in Bacolod, the city government has received various national awards from prestigious organizations in 2017 and 2018 under his term. (PR)