Liloan is finalist for most trade-friendly LGU in the country

CEBU, Philippines - The municipality of Liloan, Cebu, has been nominated for the 2010 Most Business-Friendly LGU (Local Government Unit) Award by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Liloan is the only LGU in the province of Cebu that qualified for the said award.

The award is given to municipalities that have demonstrated outstanding efforts in instituting good governance reforms to promote trade and investment in their localities; ensure efficiency, transparency, and accountability in the conduct of day-to-day operations; and elevate competitiveness, which will ultimately benefit the citizenry.

Mayor Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco said he gave a presentation before the PCCI last week in Manila and the winners will be announced next week.

Having been chosen as one of the best five finalists nationwide, Frasco is hopeful that Liloan will get the award.

“I am hoping for the best but being nominated is a big achievement and an honor in itself,” Frasco told The FREEMAN.

The Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry nominated the towns of Consolacion, Liloan and Cordova to the prestigious award for the municipal level.

Under the business-friendly award, the PCCI is recognizing provinces, cities and municipalities with good governance to promote trade and investment.

The search is conducted nationwide through the assistance of the PCCI’s local counterparts such as the CCCI.

Under the procedure, any business group can nominate any LGU to the PCCI.

The criteria stated that provinces should demonstrate leadership in promoting trade, investment and tourism.

For cities and municipalities, nominees should demonstrate business-friendly measures such as simplified business-related procedures.

In addition, nominees should have an investment promotion program, which may include investment incentive ordinances.

Winners will be awarded during next week’s 36th Philippine Business Conference in Manila. President Noynoy Aquino is expected to grace the event.

Located 19 kilometers away from Cebu’s capital city, Liloan is a first-class municipality that is aiming to join the list of Philippine cities.

Employment in private and government offices is the major source of income for families. Others are into livestock, marginal fishing and farming.

Aside from its efforts to become a city, Liloan now envisions of being the first town in Cebu, or perhaps in the country, to provide Internet access for all its barangays, even those in the mountains.

Soon, Liloan will be even more accessible from the airport and seaports because of the construction of the North Coastal Road, a major road artery which cuts travel time to the north.

The number of industries in Liloan is growing. From 1,298 business permits issued in 2007, this year already saw 1,924 business permits issued so far.

Liloan was also identified by the Department of Trade and Industry as a pilot area for the implementation of a new business permit system after seeing that the municipality has an enabling environment for business.

From P3.037 million in 2007, the business taxes collected rose to P4.883 million this year.  (FREEMAN)