Bacolod gives up title as Most Business Friendly City
BACOLOD CITY – The city will no longer bid to retain the title Most Business Friendly City in the country this year.
Bacolod City Administrator Dr. Rogelio Balo yesterday said the city is no longer interested in joining the competition being organized by the Philippine Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).
"It's sad news on our part because Bacolod City was a title holder during last year's competition," Balo said.
He said that in 2006, Bacolod City became a finalist in the search for Most Business Friendly City which was won by Naga City that year. In 2007, Balo added that the city again joined the competition and "we became victorious as we garnered the title as "Most Business Friendly City all over the country."
City Permit and Licensing Officer Ardis Jaculina yesterday explained that Bacolod City failed to participate in the prestigious competition this year because it failed to get an endorsement from Metro Bacolod Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MBCCI).
She said that on July 10, 2008, Mayor Evelio Leonardia sent a communication to PCCI seeking the city's intention to again participate in the competition. But on July 14, Bacolod City failed to get endorsement from MBCCI.
Dr. Balo, however, said that it was not hard to get endorsement from MBCCI before as compared to this year's competition. Balo said he was surprised why Bacolod City could not get an endorsement despite the fact that the title last year belonged to the city.
Although the City Administrator did not pinpoint its fingers to MBCCI, he believed that there is somebody who would like to destroy the image of the city as the Most Business Friendly City all over the country.
Balo did not categorically identified the person he is alluding to although it is a fact that the city is currently having issues with the Central Negros Electric Cooperative (Ceneco) headed by its President Mr. Roberto Montelibano, who also happened to be the incumbent officer of MBCCI.