Quezon City sees bright prospects for 2009

Positive developments are expected to make Quezon City continue to rise above other cities this year despite the anticipated global crisis, a top city official said yesterday.

Business Permit and License Office (BPLO) chief Pacifico Mag­hacot believes the Year of the Ox will bring good luck to the city government as 10,000 new business establishments are projected to register in the city.

To date, a total of 58,196 business establishments were recorded in the city last year, the biggest ever in the city’s history.

Maghacot said this figure may increase to 69,196 “by the end of 2009 due to the opening of more malls, and (information technology or IT) centers in the city.”

He said 2008 had been a good year since many unemployed residents were given job opportunities due to the completion of new malls such as The Block of SM, Trinoma and Waltermart and the IT building along Commonwealth Avenue.

Maghacot attributed the rise in the number of new businesses in the city to a policy on “minimally-regulated businesses” introduced last year by Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr.

The rule allows certain businesses to enroll in the city’s Automatic Renewal System. This means that after paying taxes and fees due the city government, their business permits are automatically issued or renewed. A total of 18,177 establishments enrolled in the ARS last year.

He added that the system has made Quezon City the fastest business permit processor in the country.

Maghacot said Quezon City is being emulated by other cities and agencies in the country for best practices in business registration, citing that the League of Cities will soon forge an agreement to adopt a Quezon City-style business registration system among its member-cities nationwide. – Perseus Echeminada