Collaboration with private sector places Santa Rosa in Meralco’s TheLuminaries 2015

“Through efficient collaboration with Meralco, Santa Rosa eliminated fake permits and facilitated faster energization of businesses with its Electric – Certificate for Final Electrical Inspection (e-CFEI) and e-Building Permit notification processes.”

This is how the City of Santa Rosa was described as it was awarded as one of the Outstanding Local Government Units in the Meralco The Luminaries 2015 Awards.

City Mayor Arlene B. Arcillas personally received the accolade during the awarding ceremonies held on March 18, 2015 at the Makati Shangri-La.

In an interview, Mayor Arcillas explained that the City implemented the e-CFEI to streamline the application process.

“After payment of corresponding fees, the applicant does not need to wait or go back for the CFEI. Instead, the Office of the Building Official will email the list of approved CFEI applications to Meralco within the day, leading to the immediate facilitation of Meralco meter applications,” she said.

With the e-CFEI, counterfeit permits were eliminated, more collection of fees increased for, and process was streamlined. “In short, it resulted in a better and more efficient public service,” said the Mayor.

Through the e-Building Permit Notification, on the other hand, the Office of the Building Official furnishes Meralco an online copy of the approved building permits to aid in the facilitation of Meralco application once the establishment applies for connection soon after.

The Luminaries

Annually, Meralco awards outstanding Local Government Units, Businesses, Industrial Corporations and Commercial Corporations for partnering with them in “lighting the way towards the future.”

Along with the City Government of Santa Rosa, awardees for the “Outstanding Local Government Units” were the Municipal Government of Cainta in Rizal Province, the Municipal Government of Carmona in Cavite, the City Government of Manila and the Municipal Government of Plaridel in Bulacan.

These LGUs we recognized for “empowering communities through social programs, providing support and solutions for their constituents and achieving significant economic growth within their areas.”

Toyota Motor Philippines, Inc., a locator in the City of Santa Rosa, was also recognized as one of the three “Outstanding Industrial Corporations” for establishing the Toyota Motor Philippines School of Technology (TMPST).  Also located in the City, TMPST was founded to help meet the company’s demand for and train locals as skilled technicians. The inauguration was held in August 2013 and operations started in September 2013.

Partners in Progress

The City does not only collaborate with private sector, it also recognizes its Partners in Progress through the Lion Award for Business. Initiated in 2008, the city government under Mayor Arcillas instituted this first of its kind award in the history of Santa Rosa in recognition of the invaluable partnership the taxpayers have forged with the City Government in pursuing development and progress of the City.

Last year, in celebration of the 10^th cityhood anniversary of Santa Rosa, the City Government gave recognition and appreciation to the three companies that topped their respective categories since the award started. Meralco was one the awardees for 2014 Hall of Fame as Top Franchise Taxpayer. Other Hall of Fame awardees were Toyota Motor Philippines Corporation as the Top Business Taxpayer and Coca-Cola Bottlers Phils, Inc. as the Top Realty Taxpayer.

This, according to Mayor Arcillas, validates the City’s cooperation with Meralco as well as with other locators in transforming the development of the City that will serve the interests of the people.