The Bacolod City government is strengthening initiatives for easier entry of new investors through the formal creation of the Department of Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion (DLEDIP).

“We’re ready to absorb any investment. The DLEDIP is here to facilitate the entry of new investors to Bacolod,” Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said in a statement on Wednesday, July 10.

As a prelude to its establishment, DLEDIP opened the Government Services Express (GSE) at SM City Bacolod and the Bacolod Express Service Office (BESO) at Ayala Malls Capitol Central.

The latest data showed the GSE served 50,728 individuals from June last year, while BESO has attended to 47,367 clients since December.

These are mainly services provided related to the payment of local taxes and the processing of business permits.

Benitez said it is easy to obtain a business permit in Bacolod. The fool-proof document has a quick response (QR) code for a business establishment to verify its authenticity.

Considered a one-stop center where investors can get assistance in starting their business, the DLEDIP, established through City Ordinance 1043, passed in July last year, has 27 new positions for filling starting this year.

“It is imperative to create a city department that will be responsible to encourage more investments and competitiveness in the locality to sustain economic development,” the ordinance stated.

It also noted that the local economic and investment promotion office is one of the indicators in the Seal of Good Local Governance under the essential area of Business Friendliness and Competitiveness. (PNA)