SOCAs feature robust economies

CEBU, Philippines -  Rosy business landscape of the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu was among the highlights in yesterday's State of the City Addresses of Mayors Jonas Cortes and Paz Radaza.

In his 40-minute SOCA at the City Council, Cortes said Mandaue City has refined its vision from being a premier business destination to a more focused goal of becoming the primary source of high quality manufactured consumer products by year 2020.

"Mandaue City is now working towards becoming an 'island of good governance' in order to be among the top performing cities of the Asean community integration," Cortes said.

This vision, he added, has led Mandaue to engage in the Performance Governance System "to pursue a clear direction of becoming the primary source of Philippine-made high quality products."

P4.2B capital

Cortes announced the city has logged 1,740 new businesses while a total of over P4.2 billion worth of direct capital investment has been infused into the local economy.

He also revealed that he has already endorsed the draft revenue code and the draft investment code to the City Council.

The proposed revenue code, he said, will guarantee the update of the city's taxes and the gradual increase of revenue collections until the city will fully realize its allowable income.

According to Cortes, the proposed new investment code will help lure prospective investors to consider Mandaue as a preferred business and expansion destination.

In his speech, Cortes also touched on the city's vying for the certification of investment promotion officers who shall take courses and specialize on investment promotions.

Initiatives

He stressed that the city has launched the execution of project teams that represent 14 strategic initiatives to achieve its vision.

Among these priority initiatives are the Mandaue expo business plan and the Mandaue expo infrastructure initiative that will work on making the city a dominant shopping center for locally-made high quality products.

Other initiatives include, among others, the Bantay Mandaue command center, the quadrant three road expansion and improvement, industrial waste management, revision of the investment code, the business survey initiative and the city hotel initiative.

The city is also working on a business linkage initiative and an "innovative" socialized housing program in response to the rapidly-increasing population and urbanization.

In terms of infrastructure, a total of P151 million was spent to improve road networks and boost the city's drainage systems, Cortes said.

Although the 7.2-magnitude earthquake destroyed the city's new public market and 134 classrooms were unfit for occupancy,  classroom repairs were done within six months such that106 classrooms are now being used by school children while 28 more are nearing completion.

Hike

In Lapu-Lapu City this year, about 11,000 new businesses were registered or a 60 percent increase compared to last year's data, according to Radaza.

"The inflow of investments is akin to a stamp of approval — not just by big investors but also by small and medium enterprises — on how the city is run," she told a crowd at the Hoops Dome in Barangay Gun-ob.

Radaza noted that a beach resort has recently revealed its P50 million major face lift; a local mall chain that opened last year has provided employment to residents; and an international mall chain has started operating in Barangay Basak.

In addition, a giant developer has also poured in P30 billion worth of investments to the city, up from the original P20 billion it announced at the start of its development.

Some P17.5 billion has  also been earmarked for the renovation of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport which is seen to stimulate more economic and tourism activities.

Paying off

"We increased investor confidence by embracing good governance and accountability, practicing servant leadership and instilling transparency," Radaza said.

"And the strategy has paid off. Not only are SMEs and big-ticket investors coming in, the MCIA Authority has also started to pay what is due to the city. To date, MCIAA has paid almost P200 million in taxes," she pointed out.

Of the entire amount, Radaza said P74 million will go to the city, P32 million to the barangays hosting the airport, P76 million to the Special Education Fund and P8 million to the city's trust fund.

The mayor also lauded the city treasurer's office for raising its collection target to 36 percent compared to the usual 10 percent year-on-year goal in the previous years.

"They were able to achieve it and even exceeded their target by five percent," she said.

More rooms

Meanwhile, the city constructed 131 classrooms last year to reduce shortage to 337.  Lapu-Lapu, by this year, has constructed 88 classrooms.

"While we are making great efforts in building more classrooms, I am proud that our teachers and students have been doing their share in improving our school division's academic performance," the mayor added.

Radaza noted in her speech that all the public schools in the city have an above average comfort room-to-student ratio.

She likewise said the teacher per student ratio is within standard and that the Additional Compensatory Allowance of teachers, school administrators, as well as education program advisors, increased by 100 percent. (FREEMAN)