Online business system tops Nerissa's plans for Mandaue

CEBU, Philippines - Online business payment transaction is one of the priority projects that Nacionalista Party’s mayoralty bet for Mandaue City would want to undertake if given the chance to become chief executive of the “industrial city” in Cebu.

In The Freeman’s Know Your Candidates roundtable discussion yesterday, Cebu Sixth District Representative Nerissa Soon-Ruiz said Mandaue City needs to make business processes, like tax payment and business registration in the City, more accessible and easier for businessmen.

“Online payment, like allowing businessmen to pay their taxes or other obligations to the city in (accredited) banks, would be convenient for businessmen. I would also want to put up a one-stop center for business registration to cut by half business permit processes in City hall. These, (among others,) will encourage more businessmen to invest in the City,” she said.

Investing in English proficiency training centers to cater to the needs of the growing call center industry and infrastructure projects such as road asphalting to create a more business-friendly environment are also in the pipeline of Soon-Ruiz’s administration, if and when she is elected Mandaue City Mayor on May 10, 2010.

Soon-Ruiz also plans to utilize Mandaue City’s share in the North Reclamation Area, which is 30 percent of the total area or five-hectares, into the new City Hall.

“The current city hall is very small. The councilors do not even have an office to work in. I plan to convert the old city hall into a museum,” she said.

Catering to the medical needs of the Mandauehanons, though, will be a priority of her administration, saying the health services of the current administration pales to what is standard.

“Instead of hiring 2,300 job orders, why don’t we hire our own nurses. We have many nursing graduates who can help take care of the people. Yes, this would be expensive. But it is just the way it is. (Looking at their medical needs) is one way of saying thank you to the people,” Soon-Ruiz said.