Valenzuela City was hailed Friday, October 24, as this year’s “most business-friendly” highly urbanized city by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI).

City Mayor Rex Gatchalian received the plaque of recognition during the ceremonies held at the closing of the 40th Philippine Business Conference and Expo at the Manila Hotel, Manila City.

Valenzuela City bested 34 other highly urbanized cities, the second time it has received the citation since its last in 2012.

The Most Business-Friendly award is given to local government units “which have been successful at creating an environment that is conducive to business,” as stated in the awards brief from the PCCI.

Local government units are judged based on six criteria: 1. trade, investment, and tourism promotions; 2. public-private sector partnership; 3. medium, small and micro enterprise development 4. quality management systems and innovation; 5. inter-local government relation; and 6. quality customer service.

Mayor Rex said the city government fosters a thriving business sector largely by automating business processes.

In 2013, the city government launched the 3S + Electronic Terminal, an automated system that has shortened the construction permits application period from two months to two days.

It opened in the same year an online gateway for real property tax payments; and, with USAID- Scaling Innovations in Mobile Money (SIMM) Project and G-XChange, Inc., a mobile payment system which allows clients to pay business permits, construction permits, and real property tax from their cellular phones.

Recently, six offices of the city government have earned an ISO 9001: 2008 certification: The Business Permits and Licensing Office, City Assessor’s Office, City Engineer’s Office - Building Official, Office of the Local Civil Registry, City Health Office, for health permit;  and Zoning Office, for location clearance.