TAGUM CITY — The provincial government of Davao del Norte aspires to reclaim its Most Business-Friendly title, after it landed as among the finalists of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit Award.
Governor Edwin Jubahib expressed optimism that the province will regain the award, as he pushed for key policies and initiatives to foster an environment conducive for business, amid the pandemic.
“We pray that we can reclaim the Most Business-Friendly Province title, as we are also sure to pass the highly-coveted Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) this year,” he said during the revived convocation program of the Provincial Capitol.
It can be recalled that in 2019 Davao del Norte bested other provinces in the country when it won the Most Business Friendly Local Government Unit Award (Provincial Level) from PCCI.
The award recognized the efforts of the province for exemplifying commendable initiatives towards good governance reforms that promote trade and investments and significantly contribute to local economic development.
Some of the efforts pursued by the province to attain broad-based growth include, among others, the implementation of a Quality Management System; compliance with the government’s Ease of Doing Business Act; strengthening the e-Governance Program to future-proof the province; widened access of MSMEs to financing; expanding infrastructure network by completing 315 projects worth 683.86 million in 2021; attaining an “Insurgency-Free and Ready For further Development” province; providing technical assistance and trainings to boost MSME development; and generating fresh investments amounting to over P1.5 billion from about 8,000 new business registrants.
The province is also confident to pass the SGLG, following the national level of validation for the most prestigious award given to LGUs that exhibited exemplary and innovative local governance practices.
Jubahib is banking on the statement of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) – X Assistant Regional Director Yvette T. Sunga that Davao del Norte is a “potential passer”.
“Dako ang akong kalipay kay ang Davao del Norte naapil (I am happy that Davao del Norte is included) as potential passer sa national validation sa Seal of Good Local Governance,” Sunga assured after validating the province. -Nobags
