Valenzuela City has earned a coveted place in the Philippine Chamber of Commerce’s Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit Hall of Fame after winning the title again this year, its third time since 2012.

In a ceremony at the Marriott Hotel, Makati City, on Tuesday, October 27, the PCCI hailed Valenzuela the Most Business-Friendly among highly urbanized and Class 1 and Class 2 cities. 

The Most Business-Friendly is a yearly search for the local governments that provide the best environment for businesses. Cities and municipalities are judged 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.

Valenzuela first won the award in 2012 and repeated the feat in 2014.

A city that works

In his presentation before businesspersons, academicians and policymakers at the McKinley Town Center, Taguig City, October 12, Valenzuela City Mayor REX Gatchalian underscored the local government’s use of technology to streamline government transactions, its infrastructure that brings government services closer to constituents, and joint venture projects with the private sector.

“Valenzuela City is a city that works,” said Mayor REX. “We are not afraid to embrace our industrial heritage. We are not afraid to admit we are the industrial capital of this country, but we are also trying to [keep up with] new technology to diversify and hasten things [and] promote new commercial activity in the city that ventures beyond the industrial town that we are [ known to be].” 

Under the 3S (Simple, Speed, Service) Plus Program, revenue-generating offices employ electronic technology for an efficient delivery of services. Instead of sending inspectors to the property sites, the City Assesor’s Office evaluates real properties using satellite images in  a geographical information system. At the Office of the Building Official, the process of construction permits application has been shortened from two months to two days at most with the use of automated Electronic Terminal. 

A payment gateway for real property taxes and a police clearance application system have also been installed at the city government website. On the other hand, ValenzuelaTrabaho.gov.ph. is a job search website for city residents’ exclusive use.

In 2014, the city government begun opening  service one-stop shops called 3S Centers in different barangays in the city. These Sentro ng Sama-samang Serbisyo Centers brings together under one roof essential community facilities, including the health station, police community precinct, fire substation, among others. The 3S Centers in Barangays Punturin, Lawang Bato, Karuhatan and Ugong even have satellite offices of the Local Civil Registrar, the City Treasurer and the Business Permit and License Office. Nine 3S Centers have been opened since last year.