Cebu chosen most business-friendly

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu provincial government’s efforts to help the business sector have paid off, as the province was chosen as the 2012 Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit in the country.

The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), which conducted the search, sent a formal communication congratulating the Cebu provincial government on its victory.

PCCI President Miguel Varela stated that the awarding ceremony will be held on October 11 at the Manila Hotel.

“This honor belongs to all Cebuanos who, through these years, joined hands with the Cebu provincial government in a concerted and united effort to achieve our phenomenal and unprecedented growth,” said Governor Gwendolyn Garcia when asked about the development.

The PCCI has, in the last 10 years, conducted a search to recognize cities, municipalities and provinces that demonstrated outstanding efforts in promoting trade investments in their localities.

PCCI based the award on five areas - trade, investments, and tourism promotions; public-private sector partnership; micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) development; quality management system, innovations, and human resources development; and inter-local government relations.

Last September 27, Garcia attended the final judging at the Commerce and Industry Plaza in Taguig City where she presented the different innovative practices that the Cebu provincial government initiated.

The other six finalists were the provinces of Tarlac, Pangasinan, La Union, Isabela, Ilocos Norte and South Cotabato.

Ilocos Norte and South Cotabato are both sister-provinces of Cebu.

Phillip Tan, president of the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), said that Cebuanos and businessmen should be proud of this recognition.

“The positive response from external investors will lead to more business opportunities in Cebu’s economy,” said Tan in a text message to The FREEMAN last night.

The provincial government has a strong partnership with the private sector as shown by the many programs the two entities involved. 

One of these is the Suroy Suroy Sugbo, a tourism program that brings tourists to the countryside, which was initially started by the Capitol in partnership with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI).

Garcia has also embarked on programs such as the Expanded Green and Wholesome Environment that Nurtures or the eGwen Our Cebu program and the Obra Negosyo Eskwela Countryside Enterprise Business Upliftment (ONE CEBU).

These were all initiated with the help of the private sector, Garcia shared with the judges, adding that these innovative programs brought huge impact to the lives of the people.

Products of local traders are also highlighted in the annual One Cebu exhibit which showcases the province’s world-class products. The academe, meanwhile, is also involved in a Capitol program where students work with entrepreneurs from the towns to help market their products.

Another program that Garcia shared was the Service with a Smile, a program patterned after that of the Shangri-La Mactan Island Resort & Spa, intended to improve the way the Capitol employees deal with the public.

The province also entered into a build, transfer and operate agreement with Filinvest Land Incorporated for a multi-billion peso commercial facility, a BPO complex on a province-owned lot in Lahug, Cebu City.

It also established sisterhood agreements with other provinces in the country and other countries. -/LPM (FREEMAN)