Manila Mayor Isko Moreno. FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines — Manila posted an “all-time high” in new business registrations amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno, in his third state of the city address, said a total of 4,829 new businesses have registered in the city from January 1 to June 25, which is an all-time high in comparison to the same period over the last three years.
Moreno said the figure is bigger than the 2,933 new businesses registered in the same period in 2020; 3,987 new businesses in 2019, and 3,705 new businesses in 2018.
“I am very worried that businesses will close, and it did. Some closed, some retired, some said, ‘time out muna (first),’ he said in a speech.
“Bagama’t maraming nagsara, mas maraming nagbukas na negosyo sa lungsod ng Maynila,” he said.
(While many businesses have closed, more businesses have opened in Manila.)
Moreno said this is because the measures being implemented by the city government to promote ease of doing business are already being felt.
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The mayor also thanked businessmen in the city for investing in Manila, while encouraging more to invest, assuring them of efficiency and ease of doing business.
“Magnegosyo kayo dito (locate your businesses here), no harm will come to you,” he said, “help us provide jobs and opportunity for our people.”