It is another feather in Tagbilaran City’s cap.
The local government unit (LGU) of Tagbilaran bags the Most Business Friendly LGU 2020 category 3 award from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), according to a report provided yesterday, Oct. 10, 2020 to The Bohol Tribune by the City Media Bureau.
The PCCI has been regularly conducting the search for the LGU which has provided an encouraging climate for businesses.
This year, the PCCI searched for LGUs which has been successful in restoring and increasing the business operations in their area through significant and sustained innovative actions despite the extreme challenges brought about by the CoronavIrus disease (Covid) pandemic.
This year’s awards aim to highlight LGU success stories and best practices that go beyond the ordinary to address the overwhelming negative impacts of the current pandemic to the business community.
Tagbilaran City obtained the nod as this year’s winner for category 3 from the distinguished panel of judges chaired by lawyer Jose Alejandro, former President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of NOW Telecoms, former President and Chief Executive Officer of East Asia Power Resources, former Country Manager for the Power Systems Business of General Electric Company, and former Vice President for Marketing at GE Philippines, Inc.
Tagbilaran City highlighted to the judges its efforts in establishing consumer confidence as a way to help businesses in the city.
Moreover, the rapid impact assessment conducted by Prof. Michael Canares also provided a clear roadmap for the city’s response to reactivate the business sector through a recovery plan crafted by the City Government with assistance from the United States Agency for International Development-Strengthening Urban Resilience for Growth and Equity (USAID-SURGE) project led by Dr. Rosalinda Paredes.
The LGU’s initiatives towards strengthening the health protocols in Tagbilaran, together with outlining specific health requirements to the business establishments on how to operate under the new normal convinced the panel to give the award to Bohol’s lone city.
Tagbilaran’s entry pitch to the panel also highlighted the new businesses which opened here amid the pandemic.
As of August 2020, Tagbilaran City already exceeded the annual target set by the Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) with an actual collection of P 241 million in business taxes as against the annual target of P 197 million set by the BLGF.
Tagbilaran City’s real property taxes collection also exceeded the annual target set by the BLGF, which is pegged at P 39 million, with the City’s actual collection reaching P 51 million, the report from the City Media Bureau says.
The awarding was conducted during the PCCI’s 46th Philippine Business Conference done in virtual fashion.
President Rodrigo Duterte delivered a message during the said awarding event.
In 2018, Tagbilaran City also bagged the Most Business Friendly LGU award in Category 3.