Why Invest in Tacloban City

Tacloban City is an investor's choice. This is the place where one's money multiplies. Listed below are the top 10 reasons why one should invest in Tacloban City.

Reasons:
1. Abundance in Natural Resources
Eastern Visayas has sufficient mine deposits (chromite, nickel, clay, coal, limestone, gravel, pyrite and sand)

2. Effective Governance and Urban Planning
Full government support envelopes the city, causing high satisfaction rates and low circumstances of protests. The city government enacted the Revised Investment Incentives Code for Tacloban City, which includes the Provision of Fiscal Incentives for Investors (e.g. Tax Exemption packages)

3. Strategic Location and Accessibility
The city is built and positioned along the Maharlika Highway, the national road of the Philippines. Seaports, airports and bus terminals bring travelers safely from Tacloban to the different parts of the country.

4. Low Crime Incidence and High Police Monitoring
The upgrade of its police station into the Tacloban City Police Office has opened opportunities for higher residential coverage and patrol, leading to low incidences of crime in the city and relatively high media exposure. This provides security among residents and businessmen. Moreover, there is an intense campaign against illegal drugs.

Ave. monthly crime rate: 8.95%
Crime Solution Efficiency: 98.25%

5. Humble Filipino Hospitality
Filipino hospitality once again proves to the world that it is vital in attracting investments and improving tourism status. Taclobanons are gregarious and trustworthy.

6. Outrageous Establishment of the Banking Sector and Financial Institutions
The financial sector, with almost 30 banks and other financial institutions established, continuously thrives in the city despite rumors saying that the global recession has not yet come to an end, and might cause rebound effects on local economies.

7. Availability of Facilities and Equipments
The readiness of State of the Art telecommunications, the increment in the number of garbage trucks circulating the city, the abundant supply of water, and the constant generation of 700.9 MW of electricity by the Tongonan Geothermal Power Plant provide grounds for economic stability, investment attraction and industrial support.

Its proximity to the Eastern Visayas Regional Growth Center, 237 hectares of land duly recognized by PEZA (Philippine Economic Zone Authority), makes it more suitable for various industries ranging from textiles to food and beverages.

8. Skilled Labor Force and Competitive Educational System
A lot of government-funded pubic schools and highly maintained private schools have produced a gigantic mass of skilled workforce.

9. Public Interference and Transparency
The people's active involvement in the doings of the city government leads to secured allocation of funds and transparency.

10. Wide and Assertive Consumer Market
The Gokongwei's move to put up Robinsons Tacloban is proof that consumers are willing to pay for what they want to have - goods and services. The company also plans on building a hotel beside the shopping complex. The mall's location is an advantage since it is surrounded by residential areas.

Local Economy

Known for its good harbor with large wharves and an extensive export trade, Tacloban City is the regional center of commerce, culture, education, government and tourism in the Eastern Visayas region. Recently, brand new malls, call centers, financial institutions, home depots, entertainment centers, coffee bars and business establishments have set foot on various areas bring up new competitors like Robinsons Land, Mister Donut, KFC, and other small establishments.

During the mid-90’s, the city outlined a 237-hectare Economic Zone which was later approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 1210 on the 28th day of April 1998. Eventually, the Eastern Visayas Agri-Industrial Growth Center (EVRGC) became officially registered as an economic zone. The City Government of Tacloban is its developer/ operator. 

Tacloban’s economic growth has aided it in becoming one of the fastest growing cities in the Philippines. It possesses one of the lowest poverty incidence rates at roughly 9%. It is also the richest local government unit in Region VIII. The Daniel Z. Romualdez Airport is the region’s largest domestic airport. There are plans for structural development and facilities upgrade to pass international standards.

Currently, at least 30 banks and financial institutions operate in the city namely:
• Allied Bank
• Bank of the Philippine Islands- 3 Branches
• Banco de Oro- 3 Branches
• Chinabank
• Development Bank of the Philippines
• Green Bank of Caraga
• Philippine National Bank- 2 Branches
• Philippine Savings Bank
• Metrobank- 3 Branches
• Kauswagan Bank
• Land Bank of the Philippines- 3 Branches
• East West Bank
• Robinsons Bank
• RCBC
• First Consolidated Bank
• Rural Bank of Dulag
• UCPB
• Union Bank
• City Savings Bank
• Philippine Veterans Bank
• Philippine Farmers Bank
• Banco Filipino
• Postal Bank
• Security Bank
• Our Lady of Perpetual Help Cooperative
• Quedancor

Shopping centers have already started flocking in the city, due to a wide base of aggressive consumers from different ages. Not long ago, Robinsons Land put up its first mall in the city, Robinsons Place Tacloban, which is now the region’s largest shopping complex. This record defeated Borongan’s (Eastern Samar) Wilsam Uptown Mall. The Gaisano Group also opened its second mall, the Gaisano Central Mall, somewhat larger than its first, the Gaisano Capital Mall. The Gaisano Central Mall houses the city’s first KFC restaurant. Another franchise opened in Robinsons Place Tacloban.

Here is a list of the shopping areas to visit:
• Robinsons Place Tacloban
• Gaisano Central Mall Tacloban
• Gaisano Capital Tacloban-Main
• Highway Supermart
• Marketsavers and Wholesale Club
• Dynasty Square
• Dynasty Center
• Kevin's
• Leyte Asia Trading
• Leyte Supermarket
• Tacloban Shopping Center (dry market)
• Tacloban Supermarket (wet market)
• Nena's Trading
• Reyna's Department Store
• RR Arcade
• 7R (fashion store)
• SM City Tacloban (Under Feasibility study)