Bacolod City has experienced a significant increase in business registrations, reaching a total of 24,690 in 2024, an 8% rise from the previous year’s 22,784. This growth underscores the city’s reputation as one of the most business-friendly locales in the Philippines, a status further cemented by its recent accolades. The Business Permits and Licensing Office (BPLO) shared these figures during a press conference led by Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, highlighting the ongoing success of the city’s business one-stop-shop (BOSS) initiative.
In 2024, new business registrations totaled 5,167, with renewals accounting for 19,523. The BOSS campaign, running from January 2 to February 15, has already seen 15,566 businesses register by January 20, marking a slight increase of 1.18% over the same period last year. Financial collections for the first 16 days of the campaign reached PHP521.217 million, a substantial jump from the PHP404.420 million collected during the same timeframe in 2023. Last year’s total collection over 27 days was PHP548.823 million, and with more than 15 days left in the current campaign, City Treasurer Gary Gecosala is optimistic about surpassing last year’s figures.
Bacolod’s commitment to a business-friendly environment was recognized at the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s 50th Business Conference and Expo, where it was awarded the Most Business-Friendly LGU in the Provincial Highly-Urbanized Cities category. The city was praised for its policies, initiatives, and services that support local entrepreneurs, attract investments, and promote sustainable economic development, setting a standard for effective governance and community progress.