Investors increase in Manila despite pandemic

MANILA – Business is good in Manila despite the challenges posed by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

The city government recorded a 45.21 percent increase in business registration as of the September 2021 data released Tuesday.

The Manila Bureau of Permits said the increase was from January to September, as compared to the same period last year.

Bureau of Permits Director Levi Facundo told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) in an interview they recorded 6,356 new businesses during the first seven months of 2021 while there were only 4,501 last year.

“A popular hamburger fast food chain will have three new stores by the end of 2021. Two telecommunications companies improved their services with over 300 new cell sites since December 2020. Most others are medium to small businesses, which have been the backbone of our local economy such as retail and services, food, online businesses, as well as lessors who formalized their business activities,” Facundo shared.

He said the ease of doing business in the capital city was streamlined via the online application Go! Manila that encouraged more business owners to register.

The app will allow business owners to submit and pay online and print their electronic statement of account and electronic permit.

Manila likewise implemented out-of-the-box programs to support businessmen, like Manila Support Local and Manila Restaurant Week while Paskuhan sa Maynila, Maynilove, and EntrePinays provided spaces for business training and grants.