ILIGAN CITY (PIA)--The city here commenced the month-long celebration focused on business, information and communication technology (ICT), science and technology (S&T), and cooperative sectors.

The event aims to foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and collaboration among businesses and entrepreneurs, empowering the local community.

During the opening ceremony, various cooperatives in the city showcased their cheer. A motorcade was also held after.

Moreover, City Administrator Darwin Manubag stressed the importance of innovation within cooperatives.

“Atong paningkamutan nga ang atong cooperatives, mahimong innovative. A number of cooperatives nga wala na nag-active probably because dili innovative, there's a problem with management. So kinahanglan ato kini i-review og ato kini pakusgan [We aim for our cooperatives to become innovative. Some cooperatives have become inactive, probably because they are not innovative, and there's a problem with management. So, we need to review and strengthen them],” he said. 

Meanwhile, Business Month Executive Management Board Chairperson Glenn Villacin emphasized in a press conference that the celebration aims to promote and elevate business activities in Iligan.

In comparison to other highly urbanized cities, Iligan offers distinct services. Hence, they recognized the need for intervention and improvement in services and products to enhance the city's image and quality in the business sector.

“Basically, what we are trying to do here is promote and, at the same time, raise the level of business activities in Iligan,” he said.

Moreover, Mayor Frederick Siao also announced that KCC Mall has successfully processed the necessary permits to commence construction in Barangay Saray-Tibanga. He also revealed that the city government has extended incentives to KCC, including a nine-year tax holiday for real property and business taxes, as part of efforts to attract investors.

He stated that KCC is poised to begin mobilizing its teams this month to prepare for the mall's construction.

Meanwhile, SM Mall is also in the process of securing their permits, although no specific timeline has been provided for the start of their mall construction.

Moreover, the city has been recognized as the third "most improved" city in the country during the 2023 Philippine Creative Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Congress.

This award is a significant recognition under the Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index, signifying that Iligan has made substantial progress in terms of readiness and capacity. This ranking also serves as a basis for potential investors seeking ideal business locations.

Throughout the month, various activities have been lined up to engage and empower the community. Among these are the Regional Science and Technology Week, Business and Cooperative Trade Fair, DTI Garbo Lanao Garbo Iligan Product Display, Iliganon Business Awards, and International Food Village, among others. 

To enhance the skills and capabilities of businesses and cooperatives in the city, there will also be cybersecurity awareness programs, mandatory training for cooperatives, bookkeeping seminars, a business forum focusing on fostering business creativity, and more.

The lined-up events are organized through a collaborative effort involving various entities, including the city government, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Iligan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation of Iligan Incorporated, and the Iligan Hotels and Resorts Restaurants Association, among others. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)