‘Mandaue City passes 1st step to be a ‘premier business area’

The Mandaue City government is optimistic of achieving its target of becoming a premier business district in Cebu by 2016.

Mandaue City Administrator James Abadia gave this assessment after the city passed the first in the four-level performance governance system (PGS) of the Institute for Solidarity in Asia.

Abadia said the Mandaue City is the first city in Cebu to pass the PGS’ first level.

According to the ISA, the PGS is a participatory process in line with the principles and best practices of good governance and responsible citizenship.

It has been tailored to institute governance reforms under the motto that “governance attracts capital.”

Capital inflows can be used to attain economic viability, address the needs of critical social sectors or membership, improve human capital, upgrade the quality of life of constituents or service for members, and become more competitive.

Abadia said that the city government would be evaluated every six months with each level costing the government P500,000.

Abadia said passing the PGS would mean possible solutions to the problems of the city such as proper waste disposal, drainage system, and repair of roads.

He said, with the city passing the PGS levels, it would become more attractive to foreign local investors.

He said the city was also planning to encourage more micro, small and medium enterprises to invest in the city.

He said with the GPS the target would be to increase the 671 SMEs in the city today to 1,614 by 2016. Correspondent Fe Marie D. Dumaboc