BUSINESS JOINT AWARDS. Santa Rosa City in Laguna is spearheading the first joint awarding for the “Lion Awards for Business 2018” and “Green Awards” slated on Aug. 3 to recognize and provide incentive to outstanding businesses and investors that have helped in the city's progress and sustainable development. (Photo courtesy of Santa Rosa CIO)
SANTA ROSA CITY, Laguna – The city government on Tuesday welcomed President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s 2018 State of the Nation Address, during which, he directed all local government units (LGUs) to ensure ease of doing business in their jurisdictions.
The President's directive augurs well for the city government to encourage businesses and investors and boost the economy not only of this city but an inclusive economic development for the region and the country in general, city information officer Tugaris L. Zapanta said.
Zapanta told Philippine News Agency on Tuesday that the city government has transformed the locality into a business and investor-friendly environment, with doing business becoming easy and convenient for the private sector.
He said the city government, led by Mayor Dan Fernandez, Vice Mayor Arnold Arcillas and Laguna 1st District Representative Arlene B. Arcillas, are spearheading the first ever joint awarding ceremony for the “Lion Awards for Business 2018” and “Green Awards” slated Aug. 3 to give recognition and incentive to outstanding businesses and investors in the city.
The awards rites, he said, also highlight the month-long activities for the 10th Cityhood Anniversary - which kicked off July 10 - by giving honor and recognition to both the government and private sectors that contribute to the city’s progress.
“To mark this momentous event, a month-long activity is slated for the benefit of the residents and investors alike and highlights the celebration for the first joint awarding ceremony,” Zapanta said.
The celebration also highlights the development milestone as the city sustains the momentum to make business environment friendlier and greener, as well as in recognition of the city’s outstanding business and realty taxpayers who help generate local revenues and improve service delivery to constituents.
“The grand annual awards night will recognize city partners in pursuing progress in the economic and environment sectors. It is our belief that while stakeholders may belong to different sectors, they all contribute towards achieving the city’s ultimate goal – a balanced and sustainable development,” Zapanta said.
The city’s anniversary theme this year adopted “One for Progress: Strengthening Partnership towards a Balanced Development", through the mayor’s dynamism thrust on “Arangkada: Dangal ng Sta. Rosa (Moving Forward, Reaping Honors for Sta. Rosa).
The award for business has been known as such since the city has lived up to its “Lion City of South Luzon” tag as it described its economy as "vibrant and booming, and, so to speak, roaring like a lion”.
Honorees in the first joint awards are the city’s Top 10 each of the business and realty taxpayers; special citations for Hall of Fame Awards; top franchise, individual realty, Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)-registered taxpayers awards; single proprietorships; real estate dealers; food services; hotels, amusement hubs; contractors; banks and financial institutions; manufacturers, wholesalers/retailers/distributors; real estate developers and subdivision operators.
For the Green Awardees, the recipients comprise entities and organizations that are undertaking environment-related programs and projects such as government and private sector program partners; “Silakbo” partners and sponsors; “Basuranihan” partners; Earth Hour advocates and “Gawad Dangal Para Sa Kalikasan.”
Santa Rosa City has transformed into one of the fastest growing economies in the Philippines from a fourth-class municipality in 1986 to a first-class town in 1993, and after its conversion into a city in a plebiscite on July 10, 2004, has soared to become a first class city that it is now.
Zapanta said the 10th Cityhood Anniversary marks the economic milestone as the city’s economic successes have placed it among the “Billionaire’s Club” of local government units in the country.
He said that Mayor Fernandez has sustained the city’s structural framework with his “Arangkada” thrust, as the city ranks among the Calabarzon Region’s and the country’s “next wave cities”, being conducive to business process outsourcing and information and communications technology (ICT) hub.
Fernandez has intensified the city’s support infrastructure, human capital development, easing the cost of doing business and crafting local ordinances that promote sustainable development and green environment.
As an investment hub of Southern Luzon, this city is home to several PEZA-accredited economic zones; four major car assembly plants thus earning the tag as the “Motor City of the Philippines.”
“With all of these, we want the City of Santa Rosa to become known as the Lion City of South Luzon. We want to represent the country’s persistence and resoluteness amid adversity; we want to symbolize the country’s pride and strength as a nation,” Zapata said. (PNA)
