Makati Mayor Abby Binay led the recognition of the Ten Outstanding Corporate Citizens of Makati (OCCM) and other city partners at the Vin d’honneur hosted by the city held Saturday at the Rigodon Ballroom of The Peninsula Manila.
The event is part of the month-long observance of Makati’s 349th Foundation Day on June 1.
This year’s OCCM awardees are Bonifacio Landmark Realty and Development Inc., Bayview Technologies Inc., Chang Hwa Commercial Bank Ltd. (Manila Branch), Charter Ping An Insurance Corp. (Head Office), Phirst Park Homes Inc., Millennium Pan-Asia Business Management and Services Inc., Bay City Commercial Ventures Corp., Fast Retailing Philippines Inc. (Ayala-Circuit Mall), Vive Eagle Land, Inc., and Arca South Commercial Ventures Corp.
Meanwhile, the City Partners of the Year award was conferred on IRC Properties Inc. and the Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation.
The Philippine Chamber of Commerce & Industry (Professional Organization of the Year), Makati Commercial Estate Association (Property/Estate Organization of the Year), and the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (IT/ICT Organization of the Year) were acknowledged for their valuable contributions in the city’s sustainable development and digital transformation.
Furthermore, Phinma Energy Corp., BDO Unibank Inc., Ayala Land Inc., ALI Commercial Center Inc., and Asalus Corp. were named Outstanding Corporate Business Organizations of the Year.
Each of the awardees received a plaque of recognition made of etched glass.
Mayor Abby congratulated the awardees and thanked them for their continuous support to the city government by paying their taxes on time and being compliant with government policies and standards.
“Congratulations to the top taxpayers and reliable partners of the city government. Your companies and organizations have made significant contributions to the city’s business sector,” the mayor said.
”We sincerely thank all of you for being with us in our journey every step of the way,” the mayor added.
At least 300 guests attended the annual Vin d’honneur, which pays tribute to companies, organizations and institutions that have contributed to city-building.
Mayor Abby also shared that the city has achieved 59 percent of its full-year revenue target of P17.12 billion after its total collection for the first quarter of the year reached over P10 billion last March.
“This achievement is a sign that investor confidence in the city continues to grow stronger,” the mayor said.
Mayor Abby also vowed that the city’s robust financial growth will translate to innovative programs that will improve the lives of Makatizens.
Under the mayor’s watch, the city has streamlined the process of renewal and application of new business permit to only three easy steps so that applicants with complete requirements can be issued a business permit within an hour.
The city government also institutionalized the “Business One-Stop Shop” where the ground floor of the Makati City Hall Building II has been designated as a common site to process applications and payments and issue licenses, clearances, and permits.
Mayor Abby said the city is also developing an enhanced business permit and licensing system or e-BPLS, a computerized system that will provide easy access to business permits through different platforms.
To date, Makati is considered as the country’s richest local government unit after its assets reached P196.57 billion.
Makati also obtained its very first “unqualified opinion” – the highest audit rating given by the Commission on Audit on its 2017 financial statements.
The city’s accounting department was also named one of the most outstanding accounting offices by the Association of Government Accountants of the Philippines.