The local government of Quezon City held its first business investment summit at the Novotel Manila on Friday, Oct. 7, to attract more businesses and provide more job opportunities to the city residents.

The city government said the “Quezon City Investor Summit: Future Ready” aims to promote the city as an ideal destination for investors and businesses as they recover from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said that the city has lost around 10,000 businesses due to the pandemic which also affected the city residents.

“We lost those 10,000 and that’s why we also would like to attract businesses. Not necessarily the same 10,000 , pero ‘yung mga nawalan ng trabaho sana mabigyan sila ng pagkakataon muli na makapagtrabaho sa panibagong mga negosyo na gusto natin hikayatin dito sa lungsod natin (but those who lost their jobs, I hope they will be given the opportunity to work in new businesses that we want to encourage to open here in our city),” the mayor told reporters.

The event was attended by QC government officials, various business leaders and associations, investors, chambers of commerce, and foreign dignitaries.

The participants of the summit discussed key areas for investments, public-private partnerships, and opportunities for expansion and growth, it added.

The mayor said they also aim to show to the business owners what the city can offer and to listen to their concerns and needs.

Belmonte stressed that although Quezon City has lost businesses caused by Covid-19, its revenue still went up due to good governance and good management of funds.

She added the city has already automated and digitized almost 100 percent of its services which made applying for businesses in the city easier for the owners.

“Yung pinakagusto kong i-highlight ngayon is ‘yung pagkakaiba ng atin pong mga ginagawa o patakaran ngayon kumpara doon sa dati. Kung saan dati tradional -- pen and paper, long lines, face-to-face interaction -- lahat po ‘yan nawala na. Almost 100 percent automated na po dito sa lungsod Quezon. (What I want to highlight the most now is the difference of our practices or policies today compared to the previous system. The traditional practices -- pen and paper, long lines, face-to-face interaction -- have all changed. The services are almost 100-percent automated here in Quezon City,” Belmonte said.

“Tingin ko (I think), this is something that we can use to our advantage to attract business owners,” she added.

Also present at the event were Quezon City Vice Mayor Gian Sotto, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Alfredo Pascual, Ireland Ambassador to the Philippines William Carlos, New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Kell, Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Ilan Fluss, and Singapore Ambassador to the Philippines Gerard Ho Wei Hong.