by: Jeanevive Duron-Abangan/PIA-XI
CARMEN, Davao del Norte, Davao.
→ The local government of Carmen is intensifying its investment promotion to entice more investors to locate their businesses and pour investments into the municipality.
Municipal Mayor Marcelino Perandos said the Municipal Council last year passed the Local Tax Incentives Code granting tax exemptions to investors, and that the Business Bureau of the municipal government had streamlined the processes of approving business permits.
“Our business bureau facilitates business permit processing to make it fast,” he said. “This is in addition to the fact that we have the lowest business fees and charges in the entire Davao del Norte,” he added.
In a separate interview, Municipal Investment Promotion Officer Dominador Borres cited a salient provision of the Local Tax Incentives Code particularly the granting of tax fees exemptions to an investor who can employ 100 local workers. The code also grants tax holidays for every P10 million investments.
The municipal government is on its fourth year this year in rolling out its one-stop-shop for business licensing and business permits approval, done every January since 2009, Borres said.
The NCCC Mall is among the early business locators in Carmen, Davao del Norte.
The Gaisano is expected to finally put up its grand mall structure early next year as it has already acquired the Carmen Business Park at the cost of P69 million.
Perandos bared substantial profit out of the Gaisano’s acquisition of the Business Park which the municipal government had developed , spending about P20 million.
Meanwhile, Perandos said the municipal government has been addressing the issue of flooding in their municipality.
Annually, he said the local government allots P5 million to flood control infrastructure and dredging of creeks.
The municipal government also received last year P100 million assistance from the 2nd District Congressional Office of House Representative Antonio F. Lagdameo for the flood control project of the LGU. The funding has helped in minimizing flood occurrences in the municipality.
Perandos also gave credit to Davao del Norte Provincial Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario who channeled to Carmen a substantial share of P190 million funds for opening of access roads through the No Barangay Left Behind Program.
Recently, Del Rosario brought thrice to Carmen the convergence for peace and development known as Convergence, which pools together various projects and services of the provincial government, the 1003rd Infantry Brigade and the Provincial Police Office.
Alongside the Convergence, Del Rosario also inaugurated farm-to-market and bridge projects to open up agricultural areas of Carmen, providing farmers and traders easy access to markets and urban centers.
source: pia.gov.ph
