46th Philippine Business Conference
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry awarded Special Citations to the local government units of Cagayan de Oro and Koronadal during yesterday’s awarding ceremonies for PCCI’s Most Business Friendly LGUs 2020.
Special citations are awarded to LGUs that have demonstrated exemplary programs or initiatives in any of the areas of the award criteria: Quality Customer Service, Public-Private Sector Partnership, Investment Promotion, MSME (Micro Small Medium Enterprises) Development), Quality Management Systems and Innovation.
Cagayan de Oro and Koronadal were both finalists in the Highly Urbanized Cities category. The awards were announced during the closing plenary of the PCCI’s 46th Philippine Business Conference which was held online for the first time.
The Special Citation for Cagayan de Oro LGU under the leadership of Mayor Oscar S. Moreno was in recognition “for actively supporting infrastructure programs that will further expand and fast-track sustainable urban development in the City and create new growth centers and for providing livelihood through the creation of programs for micro, small, and medium enterprises.”
“On behalf of the men and women of the City Government, and of the City of Cagayan de Oro, I would like to thank the PCCI for giving us this Special Citation,” said Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar S. Moreno.
“In all the things that we have so far achieved for the City and for our people, we have learned that teamwork, harmony, perseverance, and commitment are very important, more so if strengthened by the people’s support, and blessed by God’s graces.”
“We are inspired by this latest recognition, especially in this difficult and challenging period, as this will further lift our spirits to serve the people of Cagayan de Oro the best ways possible,” he added.
“We appreciate the recognition given by PCCI to Cagayan de Oro in our efforts and programs especially for the micro and small enterprises,” noted Eileen A. San Juan, Cagayan de Oro Local Economic & Investments Promotion Officer.
“The city government in partnership with DTI has established Ginama OTOP-Hub as a marketing facility for our MSMEs. As part of our business response and recovery plan, we are also pivoting our assistance to our MSMEs through a program, the Ginama Entrepreneurial Development Center. Not the least, in support to our business community, we have streamlined our business and building construction permitting in line with the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Act of 2018,” she added.
The Special Citation for Koronadal under the leadership of Mayor Eliordo U. Ongena was in recognition “for its efforts to streamline business processes resulting to a significant increase in investments and improved business sector confidence by coming up with initiatives to ensure continuing peace and order in the City.”
Other Mindanao LGU finalists of the award included Davao City, General Santos City, Cotabato City, Misamis Oriental, Davao del Norte, South Cotabato, Panabo City, and Tagum City.
The PCCI has been conducting the search for the Most Business Friendly LGUs for the last 18 years to recognize outstanding efforts and commendable practices of LGUs in the country to promote trade and investments, employment, transparency, accountability and efficiency in delivering business services.
The selection is based on five criteria: 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.
The award has 3 categories and each has two (2) levels: City Level 1 – for highly urbanized/independent component 1st to 3rd class cities; and Level 2 for 4th to 6th class cities.
The Provincial Category is similarly divided into Level 1 for 1st to 3rd class provinces; and Level 2 for 4th to 6th class provinces; as is the Municipal Category: Level 1 for 1st to 3rd class municipalities and Level 2 for 4th to 6th class municipalities.
The Valenzuela City government was again recognized as the Most Business-Friendly City for the second consecutive year as the most business-friendly city in Metro Manila after winning last year. The city is also a PCCI Hall of Famer after being similarly recognized in 2012, 2014, and 2015.
The City Government of Baguio was cited as the 2020 Most Business-Friendly LGU for City Level 1B Category (Highly urbanized cities outside of Metro Manila).
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