No corruption in Lapu: investors

[hacxcena]

---

Sunday, June 30, 2008
No corruption in Lapu: investors

BIG businessmen or those with investments of over P500 million in Lapu-Lapu City denied the claim of businessman Efrain Pelaez Jr. that transactions at the City Hall follow a system of corruption.

"We never experienced that. The mayor is good to us because, maybe he knows that business is very much critical to the system of governance. I really don't know what the quarrel was about, but in our experience, we got all the requirements to start a business very fast," said Genevieve Gaisano Go, the eldest daughter of local mall magnate Joseph Gaisano.

Her family-controlled corporation expects to complete the ongoing construction of Gaisano Grand Mall of Mactan in Barangay Basak before the year ends.

Officials, led by Mayor Arturo Radaza, conveyed their gratitude to the top 18 investors of the City through a lavish dinner and plaques distributed during the "Investors Night" held at a hotel resort in Barangay Mactan Friday evening.

No problem

"So far we don't have a problem with City Hall," said Grand Benedicto, president of Enrison's Property Holdings.

His company is pursuing a project in Barangay Punta Engaño.

Their statements countered accusations that City Hall officials extort millions of pesos from businessmen applying for building permits and other requirements.

From 2007 to the first quarter of 2008, the City catered to almost P10 billion worth of new investments, including the Amisa Condominium Resort by the Gokongwei Group of Companies, Shangri-La's Mactan Island Resort and Spa expansion, and the Gaisano Grand Mall.

Confidence

Lucio Tan, who owns several properties in Barangay Punta Engaño, will be constructing Eton City, said to be the largest real estate development outside Metro Manila.

Radaza said the investors' confidence has become the primary engine for the City's growth.

"Our immense growth is but a result of the holistic approach to progress, the strong support of the constituents, effective governance, and investors' confidence," he said in a speech.

City Councilor Damian Gomez said they recognized the investors who poured in over P500 million in new capital.

"These people are not the only ones who deserve recognition. In July 21, we will be giving a plaque to the top 20 taxpayers," he said.

F3 Real Estate Corp., which owns the Tita Gwapa store chain, was among the top 18 investors.

"There is no reason to scold City Hall (officials), wala man gyud," said Dominic Atillo, the corporation's treasurer and Tita Gwapa president.

The dinner came a day after the Mactan Island Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which Pelaez heads, hosted a business forum, where other Lapu-Lapu investors called for change in governance to lure more investors.

They cited unattended bad roads, illegal construction, squatting by known Radaza political supporters, and the lack of tourism-related projects and the political will to enforce environmental laws as factors that undermined the City's economic and tourism growth. (AIV)

For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here.

(June 30, 2008 issue)

[LanCe]

too good to be true!..look at the conditions of their road!

[knightcarl]

kani na mga investors wala ni sila naka experience na gikurakot sila... pero for sure, if maka experience na sila then mu ingon jud sila na naay corruption sa Lapu2x..

Daghan investments nangabot sa Lapu2 karon especially the upcoming Gaisano Grand MAll... I hope that the mayor will be sensitive enough to the fact that majority of the roads there are bad.


//

[ajol]

actually

Efrain Pelaez is as worst as corrupt government officials...

He doesn't pay taxes because he claims he is under PEZA(Philippine Export Zone Authority)

What is Marina MALL exporting anyway

There is Chowking there...

There is Save More also....

If Corruption is stealing Tax payers money... its the same as NOT PAYING TAX....

That is why in Cebu City TOmas Osmena is asking Schools and Hospitals to pay TAXES.....

[Motownkid]

no corruption in Lapu-lapu? lol

ilara part!!!...

[eagath]

loslos !!!

wa gud tawn.
naa ko dha nag dako.
hibaw ko sa mga kalaki ana nila.

[tagur0]

hmmm.. tanawn lang nato ang dalan dira sa basak mpez 2 padung sa community unya ang dalan pa gyud anang iskina kagudoy. asa man ang gbayad nato na buhis ana. naa pay ilang city treasurer na ma lapse lang ka sa time na dika ka kuha ug business permit, padad an dayon kag suwat na ipasirado. maau unta kng naa tay nakit an na improvements.

pero basin naa. sa mactan-punta engano tingali na area. hehehehe.

[tagur0]

hmmm.. tanawn lang nato ang dalan dira sa basak mpez 2 padung sa community unya ang dalan pa gyud anang iskina kagudoy. asa man ang gbayad nato na buhis ana. naa pay ilang city treasurer na ma lapse lang ka sa time na dika ka kuha ug business permit, padad an dayon kag suwat na ipasirado. maau unta kng naa tay nakit an na improvements.

pero basin naa. sa mactan-punta engano tingali na area. hehehehe.

[godsaint]

actually

Efrain Pelaez is as worst as corrupt government officials...

He doesn't pay taxes because he claims he is under PEZA(Philippine Export Zone Authority)

What is Marina MALL exporting anyway

There is Chowking there...

There is Save More also....

If Corruption is stealing Tax payers money... its the same as NOT PAYING TAX....

That is why in Cebu City TOmas Osmena is asking Schools and Hospitals to pay TAXES.....

Do you think kanang mga establishments dha sa sulod sa Marina mall including Pelaez did not pay taxes?How can they operate business?Wala diay ni sila Mayors permits?If wala ,then wala sila nibayad ug taxes.

[godsaint]

50 thousand for 1 unit computer dili pa high end. kana dili na corruption?