GENERAL SANTOS CITY – The City Government has recognized nine local enterprises and companies for their contributions to the area’s thriving economy and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) sector.
Mayor Ronnel Rivera said Tuesday they gave out special awards and citations to selected MSMEs and companies based or operating in the city for their outstanding performances and resiliency in the wake of various socio-economic challenges confronting by the sector.
He said they conferred the special recognitions at the recent 6th Yaman Awards spearheaded by the local government and the city’s Small and Medium Enterprises Development (SMED) Council.
The event, which was supported by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 12, was among the highlights of the city’s annual Yaman (Yabong Maliliit na Negosyo) GenSan business month celebration.
Among the awardees was the Rey Store, one of the longest-running general merchandise shops in the city, which was recognized as the Loyal Enterprise of the Year.
The award is given to enterprises that have long been existing and continually providing quality services to local residents.
For the Local Taxpayer of the Year, which is given to entities with the highest local tax remittance, the awardees were the Gaisano Dadiangas Inc., KCC Property Holdings Inc., Philip Morris Fortune Corp. Inc., Toyota General Santos Inc. and the Philbest Canning Corporation.
Gaisano and KCC operate two of the city’s and the entire Region 12 or Soccsksargen’s biggest shopping malls.
For the Entrepreneur of the Year, the Yolly’s Puto and Pancit Malabon received the award for the microenterprises category; Mix & Magic cakes and pastries for the small enterprises; and, the South Cotabato Integrated Port Services Inc. for the medium enterprises.
The microenterprises category covers business entities with capitalization of P3 million and below while the small enterprises were those with infused investments of P3 million to P15 million.
The medium enterprises category involves ventures or businesses with capitalization ranging from P15 million to P100 million.
The city SMED Council noted in a report that the awardees also received cash incentives from the local government.
It said the Loyal Enterprise of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year awardees received incentives of P25,000 each while the top five Local Taxpayer of the Year awardees received P10,000 each. PNA