The Provincial Government of Bulacan bagged the 2020 Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit Award (Provincial Level) during the concluding ceremony of the 46th Philippine Business Conference and Expo held in the Ballroom of Marriott Hotel, Pasay City last October 7-8, 2020 via virtual conference.
Bulacan Gov. Daniel R. Fernando said that the award serves as an inspiration to work harder for a better ‘new normal’ for the Bulakenyos in the business industry as well as their consumers.
The said award recognizes the leadership of LGU’s good governance to promote trade and industry and pure accountability and transparency in service.
“Kahit nasa gitna tayo ng pandemya, ako’y naniniwala na mahalagang balansehin natin ang bawat sektor at industriya. Mahalagang maramdaman nating lahat na tayo ay sama-sama sa pag-ahon mula sa krisis na hinaharap ng mundo. Alam ko pong mahirap ang naging kalagayan ng industriyang ito kaya naman nagpapasalamat ako sa inyong pagsisikap at malasakit na maka-adapt sa new normal ‘di lang para sa profit kundi para sa kapwa,” Fernando shared.
Other Bulakenyo awardees include the Municipality of Guiguinto headed by Mayor Ambrosio Cruz, Jr. as the 2020 Most Business-Friendly LGU Award winner for the Municipality Level I, Municipality of Baliwag led by Mayor Ferdinand Estrella received the 2020 Most Business Friendly LGU Award-Special Citation; Bulacan Chamber of Commerce and Industry headed by Ms. Christina Tuzon as the Most Outstanding Chamber in North Luzon (Province Level 1) and Ms. Gregoria Simbulan, area vice president of PCCI North Luzon, received a Recognition of Regional Response to COVID-19 North Luzon.
Meanwhile, President Rodrigo Duterte said that the commitment to push through the annual business summit even amidst this current global crisis is truly worth commending.
“Because we believe that life must go on, even with the pandemic adapting technology for progress is really a necessity. I am confident that this two-day event has enabled you to come up with programs and initiatives that will help businesses and companies’ transition into new normal using digital processes and strategies. I hope you continue your pursuits so that together we can build a better Philippines. We might be facing challenges but with people like you helping the government, I am certain we will overcome all these uncertainties,” the President said.
Engr. Enunina V. Mangio, Chairman of the 46th Philippine Business Conference and Expo, further presented the resolutions to ensure the revival and recovery of business to continue providing employment and accelerate automation and digitalization of government procedures as a product of the conference.
Moreover, Sec. Ramon Lopez of the Department of Trade and Industry shared the government’s innovation initiatives amidst the pandemic.
“I’m confident that these initiatives can help our local businesses recover from the economic challenges of the present pandemic as well as make them resilient to future shocks. The diffusion of automation and artificial intelligence technology suggest that multiple industries will experience a profound shift in the importance of capital versus labor, it will not remove jobs but will simply redefine the nature of the jobs that will come or that are already here,” Lopez said.