First "Great Naga Sale" launched

NAGA CITY, Aug. 11  -- To spur economic growth and strengthen Naga's position as the "Shopping Center of Southern Luzon" and to enhance public-private partnerships, City Mayor John G. Bongat Office and the business sector launched the "Great Naga Sale" on Tuesday.

With an estimated three million visitors, pilgrims, and tourists expected to flock to the City of Naga in September, the City Government has embarked on a groundbreaking economic project dubbed "The Great Naga Sale," the first of its kind in the country.

Bongat said the project will be done annually and aims to promote participating business establishments selling both goods and services especially with the upcoming grand celebration of the 300th year of devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia in September.

After a series of meetings and discussions by city officials, members of the Metro Naga Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MNCCI) and representatives from Camarines Sur Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in July, the concept of a city-wide discount sale for goods and services of participating businesses came about.

The event will also be supported by Trias, a Belgium-based organization which currently provides assistance in entrepreneurship development.

Under the "Great Naga Sale" project, participating establishments will voluntarily place discounts ranging from 10 to 50 percent or more on their goods and services. The promo period, according to Bongat, will be from August 27 until September 1 and will be held in the same period annually. The promo includes all forms of products and services from food items to amusement.

According to city Administrator Florencio Mongoso Jr., "The fact that we are helping businesses promote their products and help boost their sales is already an incentive for them to participate in the Great Naga Sale"

Bongat explained that the city-wide promo is expected to boost the local economy and encourage shoppers from across the region and nearby provinces to flock to Naga.

The city mayor also expressed confidence in the first ever "Great Naga Sale," saying that by forging and maintaining strong partnerships with the business sector, the city government hopes to promote small and big businesses alike to increase their sales, which will translate to higher business tax revenues for the government. This will usher in the festivities for the month of September every year."

City officials, led by Mayor Bongat and Naga City Investment Board head Reuel Oliver, met with MNCCI President Alberto Bercasio, DTI Provincial Director Edna Tejada and representatives from Trias in July to finalize plans for the city-wide promo to build up Naga as a favorite shopping destination. (PNA)