MANILA Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso said Thursday that business tax will not be increased to keep the cost of doing business in the city low.
He cited the Minimum Basic Needs platform, which aims to create more business opportunities and predictable rules for businesses.
“When you pay one peso, you get one peso receipt,” Moreno said during a courtesy call by representatives of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AmCham) at Manila City Hall.
Moreno informed the delegation of measures to ease doing business in Manila, including the reduction of zoning requirements from 22 to seven.
“You are always welcome to do business in Manila. It is inexpensive to do business in Manila. We will not raise taxes,” Moreno said.
AmCham Philippines Executive Director Ebb Hinchliffe said the meeting exceeded their expectations.
“This is already more than we expected today. To meet with the mayor is always an honor and a privilege, and what we were looking for is to learn more about why American investors or other foreign investors should come and invest in the city of Manila,” Hinchliffe said.
“Mission accomplished. He very clearly outlined the reasons that Manila is open for business, and I can now go back and very confidently recommend the city,” he added.
AmCham Philippines has more than 900 members across the country, representing American and multinational companies.
