The city government of Makati named the city’s top 10 Outstanding Corporate Citizens for 2017 during its 347th Foundation Day Vin d’honneur at the Peninsula Manila Thursday night.
The awardees, in no particular order, were Ayala Land Inc. (ALI); ALI Commercial Center, Inc.; BDO Unibank Inc.; Phinma Energy Corp.; HP PPS Philippines Inc.; Pepsico Inc.- Philippine Branch; Rockwell Land Corp.; Homeworld Shopping Corp.; Asalus Corp. (Intellicare); and Bank of the Philippine Islands.
Mayor Abigail Binay led the ceremony and congratulated the awardees, represented by their top executives, and thanked them for being loyal and reliable partners of the city government in building the city and its communities.
“Congratulations to the top taxpayers of Makati. I am grateful for your deep sense of community and social responsibility,” the mayor said.
Each of the 10 awardees received a plaque of recognition made of wood with bronze and gold trimming. The companies were chosen on account of their correct and timely tax payments, which formed their overall performance in 2016.
Former vice president Jejomar Binay and Dr. Elenita Binay were also present at the event attended by more than 300 guests.
Among those who attended include foreign dignitaries and members of the diplomatic and consular corps, national government officials, members of the Makati business community, business organizations, and local officials.
Representatives Monsour del Rosario and Luis Campos, Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo, City Administrator Claro Certeza, members of the City Council, and department and office heads of the city government were also present.
Mayor Binay said the traditional holding of the vin d’honneur in honor of the city’s partners in the private sector aims to recognize those who have contributed much to city-building and shared the benefits of progress to the people of Makati.
“Our greatness as a city has always been anchored on our faith in the Almighty, our sense of community, and on our one-ness,” she said.
“I am here to fulfil my personal commitment to you. My administration will support you unequivocally because I want our Makatizens to have the global competitive edge,” she assured.
The mayor also vowed that her administration will “enable business, not stifle business,” and “assist business, not compete with business.”
Binay also shared with the guests her vision of a “bolder, more exciting future for Makati” through public-private partnerships, which the amended PPP Code of Makati enacted in 2014 recognizes as essential to the development of Makati.
The mayor said the city government has proceeded with a PPP proposal that will provide, at no cost to the city, Makatizen Cards to all residents and city employees.
“The Makatizen Card will serve as an official government issued identification card and will be capable of receiving salaries and benefits from the city,” she said.
The card can also be used to pay for services and goods in accredited merchants, and earn Makatizen loyalty points.
To date, around 2,000 Makatizen Cards were already distributed to selected employees.
The mayor also cited an agreement she signed recently for a PPP project – the first under her administration – with a major Chinese realty developer, with the end in view of building low-cost houses for an estimated 5,000 informal settler families in Makati.
“We are optimistic that this PPP model will provide a sustainable solution to the shelter needs of our citizens that can be replicated by other local government units,” she said.
The mayor also said that the city recently received PPP proposals for the construction, at no cost to the city, of a fiber optic cable loop around Makati City. In fact, she said, fiber optic cable has already been laid down in Barangay Poblacion, and for one month, free, fast and unlimited internet connection was made available to residents surrounding City Hall.
“Makati City has and will continue to promote public and private partnerships as essential to development and inclusive growth,” the mayor assured.
