PCCI to honor LGUs

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the country’s largest business organization, will present awards to local government units for their outstanding achievements in creating or enhancing economically viable and vibrant communities.

The recognition to cities, municipalities and provinces seeks to inspire LGUs to continuously institute good governance reforms promoting trade and investments, transparency and efficiency in delivering business services that fortify the competitiveness of enterprises and that result in inclusive economic growth.

The Most Business-Friendly Local Government Units Awards will be given during the 41st Philippine Business Conference at Marriot Hotel in Pasay City on Oct. 26 and 27, according to Benedicto V. Yujuico, PBC chairman.

The winning cities, municipalities and provinces were adjudged  outstanding in meeting three qualifying indicators and five essential indicators of basic business-friendliness.

The qualifying indicators were in the areas of (1) investments, (2) Anti-Red Tape Act, and (3) fiscal transparency.

The four essential indicators were (1) trade and investment promotions, (2) public-private sector partnership, (3) MSME development, (4) quality management system innovation, and human resource development, and (5) local government collaboration.

This year’s PBC theme is “One. Global. Filipino: Synergies in Partnerships for Global Competitiveness”.  The PBC will have seven plenary sessions reflecting the theme.

The PCCI, the country’s largest business organization, assembles the PBC as the annual dialogue between government policymakers and business decision-makers.

Past winners of the Most-Friendly Local Government Awards were:

2011 – City levels: Olongapo City, San Fernando (Pampanga), and Balanga City

Municipality levels: Carmona (Cavite) and Guimbal (Iloilo) Province: Leyte

2012 – City levels: Valenzuela, Calamba, Calapan and Laoag Municipality levels: San Nicolas (Ilocos Norte), San Felipe (Zambales) Provinces: Cebu, Tarlac 2013 – City levels: Puerto Princesa, Laoag, Calapan municipality: San Nicolas (Ilocos Norte), Guimbal (Iloilo) province: Tarlac.

2014 – City levels: San Fernando (Pampanga), Calapan Municipality Levels: San Nicolas (Ilocos Norte), San Felipe (Zambales) province: Tarlac.