BY JOHNNY NOVERA
IN our column last week titled, “The ranking of our cities”, Iloilo was on 19th place in terms of income as against other Philippine cities in 2013, according to data from the Department of Finance.
Outside Metro Manila, we were surpassed in annual income by Davao (fifth), Cebu (sixth), Cagayan de Oro (13th), Zamboanga (14th), Calamba (16th), and Puerto Princisa (17th).
The history of Iloilo City dates back to the Spanish colonial period. After 1855 we became the second most important port of call in the colony due to transshipment of sugar products from neighboring Negros Island.
In fact, at the turn of the 20th century, Iloilo ranked second to the primate city of Manila, with stores at Calle Real selling luxury products from all over the world. It had already its own telephone network system that started operating in 1894.
Now, for the first time in many years, we are witnessing again in our city actual signs of expansion and growth.
Gerardo P. Sicat, economist and former director general of the National Economic Development Academy (NEDA), observed that “the changes in Iloilo City today cannot be missed by anyone who has been familiar with the city in the years before.
The physical evidence is abundant — new roads, or much widened old roads have multiplied space for future growth of commerce. The city is growing not only with people; is on a building and rebuilding phase.”
Well, the physical developments like the 14-kilometer four-lane circumferential road at the outskirts of the city have indeed expanded the space for business and commerce in Iloilo.
Double Dragon Properties Corp., for example, immediately saw the opportunity to set up its CityMall commercial centers in two sites along the roadway — one in Brgy. Ungca, Pavia, Iloilo and another in Brgy. Tagbak, Jaro across the transport terminal.
But what is this report that the city is planning a tax hike by way of increasing its tax assessments of land in the city by 50 percent up to 100 percent?
At this time when we need to attract more investors to our city, maybe we should not talk of tax increases at all. On the contrary, we should give tax incentives for new business to expand in Iloilo, especially along the new circumferential road.
This can contribute to faster growth and, if we succeed, we can not only raise our income ranking among other cities but also reclaim our title as the Queen City of the South. (For comments or reactions, please e-mail to jnoveracompany@yahoo.com)/PN
