By Erwin P. Nicavera
Published in the SunStar Bacolod newspaper on July 04, 2017.

TALISAY City is being positioned to become the retail capital of Negros Occidental outside Bacolod City, its top official said.

Talisay City Mayor Nilo Jesus Antonio Lizares III, during the grand opening of Wilcon Depot Bacolod-Talisay Branch last Friday, said they are currently working on setting a new standard for Talisay as strategic venue for investments, especially on retail.

Lizares said many investors have been eyeing the city for business expansion, thus, the local government is currently reviewing its tax ordinance geared toward attracting more companies.

“We are finalizing our tax ordinance so that we can present to investors the incentives which they can avail,” he added.

Among other priority-measures of the City Government to maintain a business-friendly environment is making the processing of requirements easy for investors.

Lizares said they are also making sure that all facilities are updated.

“We have new patrol cars, ambulance and rescue truck, which I think boosts the confidence of investors towards our city,” he added.

William Belo, founder and chairman emeritus of Wilcon, the country’s biggest chain of home improvement and construction supply retail, said they have been eying Talisay for their business expansion several years back.

Belo noted that the city government is very cooperative manifested through the smooth processing of requirements.

“They tried to encourage investors like us to really come here. The city has recognized that one way for its economy to grow and for people to have jobs is to have people from outside invest,” he said.

Aside from efficient government services, the retail firm giant head said that peace and order is not a problem in Talisay City.

“We are trying to distance from Bacolod City which is already congested,” Belo added.

Aside from the just-opened Wilcon Depot Bacolod-Talisay, which is the biggest branch in the Visayas with an investment cost of about P180 million, Talisay also hosts other large retail businesses like The District Ayala North Point, SM Savemore, and several car dealer outlets, among others.

Megaworld Corp., through its wholly-owned subsidiary Suntrust Properties Inc., is currently developing a 24.52-hectare mid-cost residential project called The Fountain Grove in Talisay along the Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road.

The project, which has an initial investment of about P2 billion, forms the part of the 53-hectare township development which will soon rise in the area.

“These investments will be new landmarks not only in Talisay but also in the whole of Negros Occidental,” Lizares said, adding that the city is now a major contributor to the province’s economic growth vital in improving the lives of Negrenses.