AS A way to better improve and strengthen the business climate in Danao City, the local government unit in northern Cebu organized its first ever business summit on Aug. 19, 2022 through the Danao City Investment and Promotions Center (DCIPC).Attended by over 50 business operators, the business summit focused on the city’s current business climate and how the city government can further support the community.In his welcome message, Danao City Mayor Thomas Mix Durano thanked the business community for taking part in the summit as it aims to have all business operators, regardless if they’re from the micro, small, and medium enterprise sector or from the large scale businesses.With the help of the business owners, the mayor said they can surely achieve the goal of being a prime economic hub, not just in northern Cebu, but in the whole province of Cebu.The Department of Trade and Industry also gave a presentation on how the city can improve its competitiveness ranking, which needs the huge help of the business community. Currently, Danao ranks second in the whole Province of Cebu, and 64th in the whole country.Further, DCIPC officer-in-charge, former congressman Red Durano, said the goal of the city, among many other things, is to provide better opportunities for businesses in the city in order to also attract more investments.Red presented to the business operators the city’s short and long term plans under his office, which he said would only be possible with the help of the business community.“It’s only through your participation that we can get more inputs and suggestions on how to improve our city in terms of investment climate,” said Red, who also asked the business operators to join the Danao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).The DCCI was initiated in 2019, but was not able to kick off due to the pandemic, according to Ireneo Tangalin, the president of DCCI. But Tangalin said that he’s glad that DCCI is being reactivated, and that the LGU of Danao is involving them in the planning of the city’s projects.Red said its crucial to activate the DCCI because the city government won’t be able to do it alone, particularly at this time that economic revival is the goal after the pandemic.“Gitagaan nato og importansya ang ekonomiya sa dakbayan (We have given importance to the city’s economy). Danao City wants to be business and investment friendly. That’s why we are working with the Danao Chamber so we can get the input of the private sector,” said Red, who also presented other incoming projects in the city, like the activation of the local council for micro, small and medium enterprises; improvement of public transport; and digitalization of the payment system for real property and business permits.Red also shared that because investors are looking at other locations outside Cebu City and the neighboring towns, Danao City is becoming more attractive to business owners.In fact, Red said several investments are already in place, including a real estate development that includes condominiums, housing and commercial buildings in one area, and another area that will be the location of a retirement village, a nursing and medical school, and a hospital.He added that more multibillion investments are also in the pipeline.The business summit is the first among the many planned for the whole year, said Red, and more will come as they want the business sector to be involved in the planning of the city. (PR)