Vol. XXI, No. 239 [ BusinessWorld Online ]
Monday, July 7, 2008 | MANILA, PHILIPPINES
CEBU CITY — Mandaue, one of the three highly urbanized cities in Metro Cebu, improved its income, as it worked to encourage more businesses to set up in the city.
From January to May this year, collections from taxes and service fees increased 10% to P396.05 million from P358.3 million a year ago. Tax revenues, which comprise the bulk of the city’s income, went up 9% to P329.52 million as of May from P301.32 million last year. Among the various taxes, business tax collection grew 14% to P118.37 million from P103.74 million in the same period.
More businesses also secured business permits. The city issued a total of 9,310 business permits as of May compared to only 8,624 last year.
"These prove that the city government has regained the confidence of the business community. One businessman told me he secured a permit because he was confident that everything would be above board at city hall," Mayor Jonas C. Cortes said in his state-of-the-city address last Friday.
Business permits can now be secured in just one day, said city administrator Briccio Boholst. "Our objective is to issue business permits upon the filing of the application. The required documents may be submitted within 45 days. If this is not complied with, we recall the permit after 45 days," Mr. Boholst said.
Road improvement projects are also being implemented. Mr. Cortes said each of the city’s 27 barangays were granted P1 million from the 20% development fund of the mayor for the improvement of roads and other infrastructure. "About 5,900 linear meters of roads have been concreted, asphalted, paved or patched," Mr. Cortes said.
While some projects may be delayed because the city council is composed mostly of members of the opposition, Mr. Cortes said the city government would look for ways to implement the projects. The mayor said having the opposition control the council is "a good thing" because it shows that democracy is working in Mandaue and there’s a check-and-balance system to ensure good governance.
"More businesses are now coming in and we know that more investments mean more job opportunities," he said.
Mandaue hosts about half of Cebu’s export companies, especially those in the furniture sector, as well as major industrial factories such as the San Miguel Corp. brewery plant. — Marites S. Villamor
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