Local Investment Incentives. The Sangguniang Bayan have enacted Ordinance No. 1 series of 1995 otherwise known as Local Investment Incentives Ordinance of this municipality that provided tax holidays and other benefits to investors.

Under this ordinance, the Municipal Investment Board (MIB) is tasked to formulate implementing guidelines, evaluate, accept or reject applicants who may want to avail of the incentives and privileges under this ordinance. All applications submitted to the MIB shall be acted upon by the board within thirty (30) days.

Tax holidays given under the ordinance include:

For a branch being opened by an existing business, the foregoing shall apply only to the branch in accordance with guidelines to be formulated by the Municipal Investment Board.

TAX HOLIDAY INCENTIVES

• Qualified members are exempted from payment of all kinds of business taxes.

• Exemption from payment of all licensing & permit fees. Participants however are still required to secure the licenses and permits necessary to operate their business.

• Exemption from listing on the assessment rolls or reclassified real property during construction business operation shall have starts. Exemption period shall not exceed two years.

• Business enterprises or applicants having the following nature of business shall be given this incentive progress:

For a branch to be opened by an existing business, the foregoing shall apply only to the branch in accordance with guidelines to be formulated by the Municipal Investment Board.

Business enterprises or applicants having the following nature of business shall be given priority under this incentive progress. 

• Labor generating or labor intensive enterprise.

• Enterprises established in less developed areas as may be determined by the Zoning or ordinance or in the absence, by the available locally.

• Manufacturing enterprises using raw materials that are mostly available locally.

• Manufacturing or processing plants:

• General Merchandising or consumer oriented firms.

• Tourism oriented enterprises.

• Service oriented enterprises.

• Pioneering enterprises

• Environmentally and ecologically friendly enterprises.

Upon the approval of the application to this Local Incentive Program, the applicant shall pay an annual registration fee, in lieu of regulatory fees, to the Treasure in accordance with the rate provided below, after which the MIB shall issue a certification or registration to the business entity concerned as member-participants duly stating the incentive and privilege granted under the provisions of the ordinance.

For $ 75,000.00 and above, the amount equivalent to the registration fee of its equivalent in person at the current rate of exchange and an additional of P3,000.00 for every $ 50,000.00 in excess of $ 300,000.00. Insofar as a branch to be opened by an existing business is concerned, the foregoing shall apply only to the branch in accordance with the guidelines to be formulated by the MIB.

This incentives program shall not apply to financing or banking institutions which are governed by General Banking Act under the Central Monetary Authority Supervision.

Power. With a demand of 1,270 kilowatt of electricity, Santa Barbara is serviced by the Iloilo Electric Cooperative I (Ileco I), the most outstanding electric cooperative in the country, and is interconnected with the Visayas grid of the National Power Corp. The entire town has been energized and an Ileco I substation stands at Barangay Bolong Este. The said substation supplies power not only to Santa Barbara but also to the towns of Alimodian, Cabatuan, Leganes, Leon, Maasin, Pavia and San Miguel.

Water Supply. Santa Barbara enjoys a stable water supply from the Metro Iloilo Water District, which has a newly-rehabilitated reservoir in Barangay Talangahauan. Constructed in 1925, it is the first waterworks system in the Visayas and Mindanao that also supplies water to the neighboring town of Pavia and Iloilo City.

Communication. Santa Barbara has an efficient telephone system serviced by Globelines (formerly Islacom) which also provides national direct distance and international direct distance dialing as well as Internet services. Access to telephones also enables the townspeople to connect to various Internet Service Providers based in Iloilo City. Santa Barbara has one cable Tv company, one telegraph station and all its barangays have radio communication units that allow them instant link with the municipal government and police. Mail service is served by the Bureau of Post and private couriers.

Irrigation. Agricultural investors will be happy to note that rice lands in Santa Barbara is irrigated, the town having two irrigation systems -- the Aganan and the Tigum irrigation systems. At least 11,183.193 hectares or 84.751 percent of its total land area of 13,196 hectares is primarily devoted to farming and of 3,961 hectares that is devoted to rice production 1,198 hectares or 34.24 % is irrigated.

Labor Force. Santa Barbara's household population of those 15 years old and over totaled 26,588. Employed labor force is 11,738 while unemployed labor force is 1,765. Non-labor force or those in school is 13,085.