SAN NICOLAS, Ilocos Norte–Twice in a row, the San Nicolas local government in Ilocos Norte bagged the 2013 most business-friendly municipality title trouncing Roxas, Isabela in Region 2 in the 1st level category.
The competition among local government units is the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (PCCI) initiative to complement the efforts of the government to streamline business procedures in compliance with the Anti-Red Tape Act or RA 9485.
The municipality of Guimbal in Iloilo, meanwhile, beat San Felipe in Zambales under the Level II category.
The award was given last October 24 at the Manila Hotel during the 39th Philippine Business Congress and Expo.
San Nicolas bagged the same award last year.
The town, home to Robinsons’ first full-service mall in Ilocos Norte, is bustling with local industries from clay pottery, furniture and metal craft industry.
Mayor Melanie Valdez said the town’s employment program has been shooting up with the arrival of fresh investors.
“(The award) brings more trust and confidence (for the town) and (results in more) investors who continue to pour in investment to the municipality,” Valdez said.
This year, San Nicolas adopted the slogan “What’s good for the citizenry is good for business.”
The award seeks to recognize and promote models of governance of municipalities, cities and provinces that have demonstrated outstanding efforts in instituting good governance reforms to promote trade and investment; ensure accountability; transparency and efficiency; and further competitiveness of LGU’s.
It also represents a framework for achieving continuous improvement of LGU services to their areas benefiting both the business community and citizenry. (Cherry Joy Discaya-Garma/PIA)
