Lucena’s registered businesses rise 10.91% to 6,249 - Mayor Mark Alcala

By Engr. Jay B. Laurino Lucena Mayor Mark Alcala reports a 10.91 percent rise in registered businesses during his 2026 State of the City...

By Engr. Jay B. Laurino

Lucena Mayor Mark Alcala reports a 10.91 percent rise in registered businesses during his 2026 State of the City Address at the city council chamber. (Mayor Mark)

LUCENA CITY, Quezon - More than 6,000 registered businesses now support Lucena’s local economy, with the city reporting a 10.91 percent increase to 6,249 enterprises in 2026. The city also reported P405.69 million in business tax collections, adding to the local revenues available for education, health care, infrastructure and social protection.

Mayor Mark Alcala reported the growth in his State of the City Address, citing retail and services as the largest groups in the business registry. Retail establishments accounted for 24.76 percent of registered businesses, while services made up another 20.57 percent of the total, according to his report.

Collections from local sources reached P734.68 million as of September 2026, according to city treasury figures presented during the State of the City Address. The report also put real property tax collections at P192.87 million, adding to the revenues available for city operations and the delivery of public services.

Lucena also posted a 95 percent employment rate in 2025, the highest among Calabarzon’s provinces and highly urbanized cities, according to Philippine Statistics Authority data. The figure exceeded the regional average of 94.2 percent, while the city’s unemployment rate of 5 percent was below the region’s 5.8 percent.

“As we hit a milestone in employment, we have also seen continued growth in the local commerce. Against our 2025 data, we have welcomed a growth rate of 10.91% this year on registered local businesses—now with 6,249 registered business entities supporting our local economy,” Alcala said.

The city launched Paleng-QR Ph Plus on August 17 to encourage public market vendors and small merchants to accept payments through banks and electronic wallets. The initiative involves cooperation with the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and participating financial service providers to promote financial inclusion.

Lucena also secured P1.8 million from the Department of Science and Technology for a Digital Business Locator under its Smart and Sustainable Community Program. The centralized mapping and database system will locate commercial establishments and community resources, with the resulting information intended to guide the city’s economic development planning.

“Dahil ang tunay na progreso ay hindi lamang nasusukat sa mga nagawa natin ngayon, kundi pati sa magandang kinabukasang inihahanda natin para sa susunod na henerasyon. This is why we must continue working together, beyond personal interests and differences, for Lucena and every Lucenahin,” Alcala said.

Lucena’s annual budget exceeded P2.3 billion in 2026, up from more than P2.1 billion in 2025 and P1.4 billion when Alcala’s administration began. The mayor said the larger budget would support education, health services, social protection and infrastructure, connecting the city’s fiscal growth to spending on residents’ needs.