LAOAG CITY, Oct. 15 — Two local government units (LGUs) in Ilocos Norte have made it as finalists in the national search for Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit.
Laoag City is a finalist for the Component City Category while the municipality of San Nicolas falls under the 1st to 3rd class Municipality Category.
City Mayor Michael Farinas expressed hope that the city will be lucky enough to win in this year’s search. This is the second time the city has been a finalist in the search.
On the other hand, San Nicolas Mayor Alfredo Valdez is once again elated and grateful for the recognition. The town of San Nicolas was hailed as the Most Business Friendly Municipality in 2009 and was awarded a special citation for Best Public-Private Sector Partnership Award in 2010.
According to Valdez, the municipal government fosters its close relationship with the business community. His government continues to come up with reforms to speed up services to encourage businessmen to come in the town.
San Nicolas is a second-class municipality that is easily becoming a commercial-industrial center in Ilocos Norte. The commercial center, in its midst, houses two huge malls.
The Search for Most Business Friendly LGUs is a project of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in cooperation with the League of Municipalities. It seeks to recognize the efforts and practices of LGUs in instituting good governance reforms focusing on the promotion of trade and investments.
Winners will be announced during the Philippine Business Conference and Expo at the Manila Hotel. (JCR/CPC-PIA 1 Ilocos Norte)
