THE Board of Investments (BOI) on Thursday said it is helping the city government of Pasig gain more investors and boost economic activity.
“This is a synergistic partnership. We see the value of BOI’s technical expertise and guidance, especially as we continue improving our systems,” Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said following the signing of an agreement with Trade Undersecretary and BOI Managing Head Ceferino Rodolfo.
The partnership involves Pasig strengthening its investor services, simplifying business processes and maintaining transparent governance.
In turn, BOI will support the city through investment promotion, technical assistance and linking it with potential investors.
Rodolfo said that investors consider the ease, cost and predictability of doing business in a particular location.
“These factors [all] come down to good governance — how transparent, inclusive and efficient a local government is,” Rodolfo noted. “That’s why we are excited to partner with Pasig. What the city is doing shows that good governance can directly lead to real economic gain.”
The city has already taken steps to address long-standing challenges to the ease of doing business, Sotto said while acknowledging that dealing with costs remains a work in progress in areas influenced by local and national factors.
“We’ve made progress in streamlining processes in Pasig, but we know there’s still more work to do,” he said. “Even if we cannot control everything, what is within our power, we will improve, especially in creating a stable and predictable environment for businesses.”
Beyond incentives, what builds investor confidence are consistent policies, efficient systems and strong coordination between national and local governments, while ensuring that growth remains inclusive and sustainable, Sotto and Rodolfo agreed.
