CALAMBA CITY (PIA) — The city of Calamba is positioning itself as a center for business and investments, aiming to create jobs and livelihoods by building a more reliable micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sector and making government transactions transparent and easier.

During the Calamba City Business Forum held on Feb. 1, Mayor Roseller Rizal stated the local government prioritizes programs aimed at encouraging more business activities in the city through ‘improved and innovative governance’. 

“The programs of my administration are devoted to strengthening the economy and encouraging more business activities, creating additional jobs and livelihood for our people.” Rizal said, emphasizing the need for transparency and honesty in governance.

The city is also striving to be recognized as one of the country’s most business-friendly cities. Mayor Rizal mentioned there are close to 11,800 businesses registered with the city’s Business Permits and Tricycle Franchising Office (BTFO). 

The local chief executive said: “We will continue to prepare our city with the much-needed conditions and circumstances that will nurture Calamba as one of the most business-friendly cities in the Philippines.” 

Sherill Quintana, charter president of the Calamba Business Council (CBC), said the city government has proven itself as a business-friendly city as it supported the inception of the group and continues to assist CBC in carrying out programs for MSMEs.

“We cultivate, build a reliable sector for MSMEs in Calamba City, and to cooperate with the LGU on how we can make Calamba a more progressive city. Since day 1, the city government has supported us. When we reach out with the mayor, he is very responsive to our concerns,” Quintana said.

According to CBC, capital needed to expand their businesses and the lack of information on issues about transparency are the main issues being raised by their members.

“Since we are MSMEs, we have a broad spectrum across micro, small, and medium businesses. One of our pinpoints is how we can turn a micro business into small, then how can a small enterprise be classified as medium? That is what we are trying to address. We also want a platform or a venue where we can gather local issues and directly address them to proper authorities. How can the government better serve the taxpayers,” Quintana said.

The city government currently provides tax relief to cooperatives and private learning institutions, aiming to facilitate access to basic education and livelihood opportunities for the people.

With its new policies proving to be effective in attracting investments, Mayor Rizal stated that the city government will continue crafting programs to enhance the city’s potential as a center for businesses and investments. 

“We will continue to prepare our city with the much-needed conditions and circumstances that will nurture Calamba as one of the most business-friendly cities in the Philippines,” the mayor said.

According to the 2023 Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index by the Department of Trade  and Industry (DTI), Calamba ranked 8th most competitive component city nationwide, measured by its economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, resiliency, and innovation. (PB,CH/PIA-Laguna)