Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III, while speaking before yesterday’s induction of members for the Iloilo City Trade and Investment Promotions Board (ICTIPB), which he recently created as part of an effort to attract more investment into the city, called on people to “invest, invest, invest.”

He said, “If President Duterte says build, build, build; in Iloilo City. we should invest, invest, invest.”

“The growth rate of Iloilo City is one of the highest, and possibly even higher than that of the country,” the mayor added. “Businessmen [should] capitalize on that.”

Espinosa also touted the streamlined business permit renewal and application process, saying it makes the city government “business-friendly.”

Towards the end of last month, after issuing an executive order forming the ICTIPB, the mayor noted, “Iloilo City’s economy has been constantly in a rising momentum and there is a need to organize a group of investment and trade experts who will be primarily tasked of identifying and providing solutions or programs.”/PLL, WDJ