COTABATO CITY – This city has been recognized by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) as among the Top 10 Most Business-Friendly Cities in the Philippines for 2018, and for being the only first-class city to receive a special citation this year.
“The city was given a special citation for assuring business sector growth and confidence by supplementing national government efforts to reduce prohibited drug abuse, criminality and efficient streamlining of business processes,” Cotabato City Mayor Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi said Friday.
Sayadi said the partnership between the local government and the business sector has also resulted in a 38-percent increase in the number of new business enterprises in the locality.
The mayor received the PPCI awards during the 44th Philippine Business Conference at the Manila Hotel on October 18.
“These awards are for all of us Cotabateños. We all deserve it because we worked together for the common good,” Sayadi said.
She said the awards reflect the city’s commitment to implement good governance reforms to promote trade and investments, employment, transparency, accountability and efficiency in delivering business services to fuel inclusive growth.
“It’s an honor to receive these awards because it simply tells us that Cotabato City has become one of the business hubs in the country,” Sayadi said.
Among the factors that made the city business-friendly are its campaign against red tape, improved peace and order that developed business confidence, effective one-stop shop business permit and licensing scheme, courtesy and speed lane for pregnant women, senior citizens and differently-abled persons getting equal access in processing business permits.-PNA
