ILOILO CITY – The Department of Trade and Industry Region 6 celebrated the achievements of the most competitive local government units (LGUs) in Region 6 during the 7th Regional Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) Awards for Western Visayas Competitive LGUs. The event, themed “Building Creative Cities and Municipalities, Elevating Local Competitiveness,” took place at the Zuri Hotel in Iloilo City on 13 October 2023.

Ermelinda P. Pollentes, Officer-in-Charge Regional Director of DTI Region 6, encouraged the present LGUs to enhance their competitiveness efforts and improve their standing.

CMCI, an annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities, has been ranking LGUs since 2012 to strengthen and monitor local competitiveness across five key pillars: government efficiency, economic dynamism, infrastructure, resiliency, and innovation.

The prestigious awards recognized outstanding performers in various categories. Aklan was once again crowned the Most Competitive Province, while Iloilo City earned the title of Most Competitive Highly Urbanized City. Roxas City, Capiz was acknowledged as the Most Improved Component City, and Kalibo, Aklan received the Most Improved 1st-2nd Class Municipality award. Leganes, Iloilo, was celebrated as the Most Improved 3rd-4th Class Municipality, and Mina, Iloilo, secured the Most Improved 5th-6th Class Municipality accolade.

Iloilo City was also honored as the Most Improved Highly Urbanized City, with Cadiz City, Negros Occidental, earning the title of Most Improved Component City. The Most Improved 1st-2nd Class Municipality award went to Dumangas, Iloilo, and San Remigio, Antique, received the Most Improved 3rd-4th Class Municipality recognition. Additionally, Batad, Iloilo, was named the Most Improved 5th-6th Class Municipality.

The awards also highlighted excellence in the five major pillars of competitiveness. The following LGUs were named Most Competitive under the government efficiency pillar: Iloilo City in the Highly Urbanized City category; Cadiz City, Negros Occidental in the Component City category; Malay, Aklan in the 1st-2nd Class Municipality category; Leganes, Iloilo in the 3rd-4th Class Municipality category; and Mina, Iloilo in the 5th-6th Class Municipality category.

On the other hand, the following LGUs bagged the Most Competitive title under the economic dynamism pillar: Iloilo City in the Highly Urbanized City category; Passi City, Iloilo in the Component City category; Kalibo, Aklan in the 1st-2nd Class Municipality category; Jordan, Guimaras in the 3rd-4th Class Municipality category; and Mina, Iloilo in the 5th-6th Class Municipality category.

Under the infrastructure pillar, the following LGUs won the Most Competitive award: Iloilo City in the Highly Urbanized City category; Roxas City, Capiz in the Component City category; Malay, Aklan in the 1st-2nd Class Municipality category; Cuartero, Capiz in the 3rd-4th Class Municipality category; and Batad, Iloilo in the 5th-6th Class Municipality category.

Moreover, the following LGUs were hailed as Most Competitive under the resiliency pillar: Iloilo City in the Highly Urbanized City category; Sipalay City, Negros Occidental in the Component City category; Tigbauan, Iloilo in the 1st-2nd Class Municipality category; Ivisan, Capiz in the 3rd-4th Class Municipality category; and Batad, Iloilo in the 5th-6th Class Municipality category.

Lastly, under the innovation pillar, the following LGUs that were named as Most Competitive are: Iloilo City, Iloilo in the Highly Urbanized City category; Roxas City, Capiz in the Component City category; Lambunao, Iloilo in the 1st-2nd Class Municipality category; Alimodian, Iloilo in the 3rd-4th Class Municipality category; and Mina, Iloilo in the 5th-6th Class Municipality category.

Special awards were also conferred to Pontevedra, Capiz (ranked 2nd) and Mambusao, Iloilo (ranked 3rd) as top intellectual property filers by the Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) with the highest number of intellectual property (IP) applications and approved registrations.

The event closed with a sharing session from the champions of their best practices, where LGUs had the opportunity to share their successful strategies and initiatives.

The CMCI is one of the DTI Competitiveness Bureau’s Programs which enjoins LGUs to gather and submit data that serves as basis for their scores and ranks. Policymakers and local chief executives can develop concrete plans and programs to strengthen their competitiveness and promote local communities as viable investment destinations for new and existing investors using the insights provided by the CMCI Data Analytics Platform.

This year, Region 6 has 100 % participation in the survey, with 133 participating LGUs.

The event was graced by the presence of DTI-Competitiveness Bureau Director Lilian Salonga, DILG Region 6 Regional Director Juan Jovian Ingeniero, DTI VI OIC-RD Ermelinda Pollentes, OIC-ARD Rachel Nufable, DTI Provincial Directors and staff, local chief executives, CMCI focal persons and representatives from partner government agencies, LGUs, academe and the private sector. ♦

Date of release: 18 October 2023