GenSan Most Business-Friendly City in the Philippines

General Santos City is in the limelight once again and for good reasons!

The Tuna Capital has just been proclaimed as the Philippines’ “Most Business-Friendly City” by the International Finance Corporation, an affiliate of World Bank after a study of doing business in 25 cities in the country was conducted.

According to their study, GenSan is the best city in the Philippines to do business in because it only takes 17 procedures and 22 days to set up a business here which is a lot better than the national average of 18 procedures and 33 days!

On the bottom of the rung is San Juan City where it takes 21 procedures and 31 days to set up shop!

Here are the ranks of all these 25 cities in terms of ease in doing business in the country. (Take note of the ranking of the country’s richest cities, Quezon [#12] and Makati [#20])

1. General Santos City
2. Davao City
3. Taguig City
4. Valenzuela City
5. Lapu-Lapu (Metro Cebu)
6. Zamboanga City
7. Cebu City
8. Marikina City
9. Mandaluyong City
10. Pasay City
11. Caloocan City
12. Quezon City
13. Mandaue City
14. Cagayan de Oro City
15. Navotas City
16. Malabon City
17. Manila City
18. Batangas City
19. Paranaque City
20. Makati City
21. Iloilo City
22. Muntinlupa City
23. Pasig City
24. Las Pinas City
25. San Juan City

Doing Business in the Philippines 2011 (the name of the study) says that “New firms are created and job opportunities multiply when starting a business is made easier. Research shows that when registration becomes faster and costs are cut, more firms enter the market.”

With that statement, think Robinsons Place GenSan, think SM City GenSan, think Sun City Suites, etc. and why they chose to invest here.

The study which was commissioned by the International Finance Corporation together with the Asian Institute of Management Policy Center, with funding from the Canadian International Development Agency, the USAID, the AusAid and the Investment Climate Advisory Services of the World Bank Group takes note of the various procedures in business regulations all throughout the country.

From it came the conclusion that the biggest challenge for local businessmen and entrepreneurs in the Philippines are the high number or procedures, the high fees and requirements.

But in General Santos City however, things are looking up!

Congratulations to the local government of GenSan for this feat which certainly was due to the hard work they did in conceptualizing a ONE-STOP SHOP for business registrations which they keep on improving year after year, ending up with the PBA Lounge during the time of the former Mayor Jun Acharon which will surely be replicated or bettered by the new administration of Mayor Darlene Custodio in 2012.

Lumevel-up na talaga ang GenSan!!!