BACOLOD Mayor Evelio Leonardia has assured all the business establishment owners in the city that the Permits and Licensing Division can release their business permits within 15 minutes as long as they have complied with all the requirements.This was the response of Leonardia to the question of one of the members of the Filipino-Chinese Community on how to fast-track the processing of business permits during the “Meet the Grupo Candidates Forum” for the Filipino-Chinese Community of Bacolod City at the Msgr. John Liu Activity Center in St. John’s Institute on Thursday, March 30.”As long as they have followed the rules and complied with all the documents, our Permits and Licensing Office will assure you that within 15 minutes they can give it to you and you don’t have to wait for three days for it,” Leonardia reiterates.He said that’s one of the reasons why Bacolod was named most business friendly city in the country given by the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), the largest business organization in the country.”Our title is not there, for nothing, but it has been tested and proven that we can do the job, and that is why business has grown,” Leonardia said.The mayor noted that Bacolod had developed not just the systems and the infrastructure but it developed a culture that the people in the City Hall will serve the people well. “If business grows then, it means more job opportunities in the city,” he added.Leonardia along with incumbent Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran with their congressional candidate Dan Atayde delivered their platforms of government before the Chinese community of the city.Incumbent Councilors Cindy Tan-Rojas, Renecito Novero, Israel Salanga, Carl Lopez and Dindo Ramos, who are seeking reelection, along with other councilor candidates composed of former City Administrator Em Legaspi-Ang, businessman Ed Guillem, former Barangay Captain Jonathan Diaz, Marlon Solidum, Cashmere Montalvo and deputy director of Emergency Operations Center Dr. Chris Sorongon were also given their time to speak for their plans and programs for the people of Bacolod.The GP also presented their three-pronged program on the areas of health and social services, economy and infrastructure, and the Smart City framework for local government.Its vision for Bacolod City is to further develop into a more livable, vibrant and resilient city where business and industry shall flourish in a climate of peace and fair competition; inclusive, innovative, and suitable, where government serves all its people responsibly and compassionately, the group said.Leonardia further said that the business environment attracted new investments, both local and corporate players, with business registrations peaking at 25,637 in 2019 before the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic was declared in early 2020.*