With still a full quarter to go, indicators show there has been an upswing in business activities in Tagbilaran City this year. Records from the City Hall revealed that there has been a noticeable increase in processes related to business activity this year. The total number of new business applications this year was placed at 914 with three months more to go. A total of 316 permits were issued in the first nine months while 581 applications are still going through the process. Out of this total, 17 applications are now up for inspection.

City administrator Eduardo Macalandag said that at this point, the total number of business permits was placed at 3601. The three quarter total this year is already 221 more than the 3390 total for the entire year in 2010. He said that 2733 were merely renewal of existing business permits which is still slightly lower than the 2933 permits renewed for the 2010 total. So far, the city has already approved 316 new applications which is nearly double the 145 new permits issued last year. Macalandag also revealed that 562 applications are being reassessed at this stage, already 260 more than those reassessed at the end of the year in 2010. Asked to comment on the reasons for the increase, Macalandag declined to give specifics saying that the city has no scientific data to determine this.

Tagbilaran Mayor Dan Lim said he is pleased with this development because any increase in business activity is good for the city. “Of course, we are happy with that,” he replied when asked to comment on this. The mayor said that it does not need an expert to know that a significant increase shows confidence in the local economy. “I do not want to say the city government is a big part of that but it would not be fair to say we are not part of it too,” he added. Lim said investor confidence is very crucial because unlike other expressions of support, businessmen put their money where their mouth is. “It is one thing to say that you are satisfied with the how the city is being run but it is an entirely different thing when you prove that approval by investing in the city,” he added. The mayor said that the increase in business activity is significant considering that the economy is not doing well even in traditional economic powers. “Of course, let us count our blessings,” he replied when asked whether this is something to be grateful for.