City administrator Dominador Dumalag Jr. said Dumaguete has shown sound fiscal management under Mayor Agustin Perdices as evidenced by its good roads, clean streets, well-preserved boulevard, and the sprouting of business establishments and food chains.

He said the city may have invested more than P100 million in the concreting of roads in the Poblacion area, but it will also save more than P20 million in yearly maintenance costs. The city's finance managers recently also finished short courses on local revenue planning at Silliman University.

The official population count of Dumaguete is 107,000 but could go up to 500,000 during day time, because of the presence of regional shoppers from southern Cebu, Negros Occidental, Siquijor, and parts of Mindanao.

The influx of students from other provinces has also contributed to the economic activity in the city with the best nursing school, presence of two of the oldest universities, and a center for tertiary education. Accessibility of Dumaguete is also one factor, with the presence of a commercial seaport linking it to the nautical highway, and the backbone for information technology, Dumalag said.

He added that mayors cannot work unless given documents, such as daily collection report, and cash flow, among others.*JG

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