ILOILO City – This city has been recognized as the most business-friendly highly urbanized city outside Metro Manila by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI). President Rodrigo Duterte awarded Mayor Jerry Treñas with a plaque.
The awarding ceremony was held during PCCI’s 45th Philippine Business Conference and Expo on Oct. 17 at the Manila Hotel attended by over a thousand delegates from national and international chambers.
PCCI annually recognizes local government units that have demonstrated outstanding efforts in instituting good governance reforms to promote trade and investments, transparency, accountability, and efficiency in delivering business services to generate inclusive and sustainable growth, and fast-track local economic development.
“The award affirms investors’ confidence in Iloilo City. The city’s business-friendliness has also raised governance to the next level with active and strong public-private partnerships (PPP) in various priority programs and projects,” Treñas stressed.
“We have initiated the reclassification of properties identified as new growth areas along and adjacent the coastal, circumferential and radial roads into industrial and mixed-use zones to make these ready for investors,” he added.
The slaughterhouse, public markets and waste-to-energy facilities have been opened for prospective players with the help of PPP Center, according to Treñas.
The mayor also noted the influx of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies here, with one looking for 1,000 nurses, and another expressing interest to open a branch.
The City of Love has been chosen by the Department of Tourism as destination for Meetings, Incentive travels, Conventions and Exhibits (MICE). The SM Group will build a 4,000-seater SMX Convention Center set to open in the fourth quarter of 2021.
The city hall opened its MICE Center and invested on promotions with P6-million supplemental fund this year and P28-million proposed budget next year.
It also entered into a 25-year usufruct agreement with Gaisano Capital Group for a 375-square meter site of a P38-million five-storey Iloilo City Action and Response (ICARE) Command Center along the Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue (Diversion Road) in Mandurriao district.
The metropolis generated the support of Megaworld Corp. for P8-million funding for resiliency undertakings.
Ayala Foundation inked an agreement with the city government to finance leadership trainings for youth, and mentoring for teachers and school heads.
Smart and Globe telecoms will soon provide free public wi-fi at the city hall, public plazas, Iloilo Esplanade, and bike lanes.
Meanwhile, beautification efforts got a boost with big businesses adopting parks including Global Business Power to enhance Plaza Libertad, and SM City Iloilo to redevelop Molo Plaza.
Colorful environs is in the making courtesy of Davies Paints that donated paints for pedestrian lanes, bridges, waiting sheds and murals on blank walls./PN
