By Leilanie G. Adriano (Staff Reporter)
San Nicolas, Ilocos Norte—The most business-friendly town in Ilocos Norte is losing businesses due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Jean Merry Talavera, head of the business permits and licensing office at the municipal government here confirmed this in a radio interview saying 94 local businesses in the area have closed shop.
"Among these include bars and other businesses that belong to non-essential category,” she said.
Pre-pandemic, this town has earned its Hall of Fame award from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the country’s most business-friendly municipality under the municipal category level 1.
To date, San Nicolas town is the home of Robinsons Mall, business process outsourcing (BPO) companies, Balai Condominium, 365 Center, Savemore, 7-Eleven, car sales branches of Hyundai, Honda, Nissan, Ford; Metro Bank branch, Gertes Resort, Midland Terraces Resort, Black Nazarene Hospital, Coral Sand Lumber & Construction Supply, and homegrown businesses, among others.
But due to the pandemic, some salons and fine dining restaurants have shut down permanently while many small businesses are still struggling and report needing further economic aid and stimulus to survive.
With this, the local government unit here in collaboration with various national government agencies continue to provide recovery assistance to micro, small and medium entrepreneurs affected by the pandemic. Livelihood, skills training and cash-for-work program are also given to displaced workers.
Meantime, a total of 1,513 tricycle drivers and operators in this town received cash assistance worth PHP1,000 each courtesy of the municipal government.
Acting San Nicolas mayor Edistio P. Valdez said the municipal government “remains true to its commitment to help the community, especially those who are greatly affected by the ongoing national health crisis”.
“We are grateful for the municipal government for receiving this cash aid. It means a lot us who are struggling to provide for our needs,” said Jovencio Pablo, president of the Damili San Nicolas tricycle operators and drivers association.
When businesses are down and classes are conducted virtually, it also follows that tricycle drivers have limited passengers.