Bacolod City Hall. (PNA-Bacolod file photo)
BACOLOD CITY – Mayor Evelio Leonardia said on Friday that the recognition received by the city as national finalist in the 2020 Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit (LGU) Awards serves as an inspiration amid its continuing battle against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
“We are inspired that we are being consistently recognized for our business-friendly environment by no less than the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI),” he said in a statement.
The nomination came after Bacolod was placed under modified general community quarantine (MECQ) due to the increase in local cases of Covid-19.
As of Thursday night, confirmed Covid-19 cases in the city have reached a total of 3,514. Of the number, 2,419 have recovered while 1,031 are active cases, and 64 died.
This is the fourth consecutive national finalist award of Bacolod from the PCCI, the country’s biggest organization of businessmen, which usually schedules the awarding rites during the Philippine Business Conference and Expo held in October.
Leonardia said that on Tuesday, LGUs Awards chair Jose Alejandro formally informed him that Bacolod has advanced anew to the final judging this year.
“We know that this pandemic has derailed our economy and even our lives. We are aware that there is a disruption of our business activities but the PCCI recognition should remind us and reassure us that once we get over this crisis, Bacolod has the capacity to reclaim its old glory,” he added.
Before the virtual final judging on September 28, Bacolod will submit a five-minute video presentation to the PCCI Secretariat. Leonardia will then face the PCCI panel in the question-and-answer portion.
This year’s search focuses on the “significant initiatives introduced by the LGU to address the major challenges currently faced in order to successfully restore and increase the business operations within the locality”.
In 2019, PCCI awarded Bacolod a special citation for its “sustained efforts to accelerate socio-economic growth and development as reflected by the significant increase in the new investments and locally-generated income”.
Also, The Manila Times selected Bacolod as the “Top Philippine Model City” both in the 2017 and 2019 Search for the Philippine Model Cities and Municipalities. (PNA)
