By Leilanie G. Adriano
Staff reporter
SAN NICOLAS, Ilocos
Norte—Over the past four years, San Nicolas has become a hall of fame most
business-friendly local government unit under the Level 1 category awardee; now
it is ready to claim the title as a first class municipality in this province.
Based on income
classification, only the municipality of Vintar has so far met this requirement
in Ilocos Norte’s 21 municipalities; being the largest town with around 61,435
hectares’ land area, thus, have the biggest share of Internal Revenue Allotment
(IRA); where it largely sources its income for expenditures.
San Nicolas town, on the
other hand, is the second smallest town of Ilocos Norte with a land area of
approximately 49.3 square kilometers. However, it is one of the most
progressive towns in the province to date, being host to various public and
private partnership infrastructure development projects such as the premiere
Robinsons Mall, Accenture Philippines and Expert Global Solutions—two of the
world’s largest Information Technology and Business Process Management (IT-BPM)
and other big time investors expanding business here.
In a draft resolution
requesting Congress to sponsor a bill for the reclassification of San Nicolas,
the main proponent, senior town councilor Miguel Hernando said it’s about time
that San Nicolas be reclassified as a first class municipality.
“This has been a long
overdue. All the requirements needed had been met even three years ago,” said
Mr. Hernando citing once San Nicolas is upgraded to a first class municipality,
this would bring in more opportunities for business and tourism opportunities,
among others to its residents.
Aside from its IRA share, Mr.
Hernando said this town’s average annual income for the last four years
warrants the first class classification of San Nicolas with over P55 million
increase in local source of income.
Based on the latest financial
report of the municipality, San Nicolas has an average annual budget of P138
million.
Three years ago, the second
class municipality of San Nicolas has already manifested its intent to move up
into a first class municipality through a resolution filed in Congress and
Senate but this has been pending up to now.
The proposed resolution,
according to Mr. Hernando is meant to follow up said earlier resolution.
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