BACOLOD City – The “City of Smiles” was declared the No. 8 most competitive highly urbanized Philippine city during the 6th Competitiveness Summit and Awards of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).
Bacolod ranked No. 1 for the same category in the Visayas.
Thursday’s awarding ceremony was held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Metro Manila.
NCC’s ranking was based on “four pillars” of highly urbanized cities (HUCs) – economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, and resiliency.
Bacolod ranked ninth in economic dynamism, 15th in government efficiency, sixth in infrastructure, and 10th in resiliency, the NCC said.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia, who received the award alongside other city officials, said, “This is a big inspiration and will encourage us to do more.”
Rounding out the top 10 most competitive HUCs in the country were Quezon (first), Manila (second), Pasay (third), Davao (fourth), Cagayan de Oro (fifth), Makati (sixth), Pasig (seventh), Cebu (ninth), and Muntinlupa (10th).
Bacolod’s No. 8 ranking is a “big leap” from last year’s No. 20 ranking, according to Councilor Em Ang who was also at the awarding.
The NCC also declared Bacolod as the third Most Improved City in the HUC category.
A total of 1,494 local government units (LGUs) participated in this year’s summit, said Trade and Industry undersecretary Rowel Barba.
Awards were also given to LGUs under three other categories – third- to sixth-class municipalities, first- to second-class municipalities, and component cities.
Aside from Leonardia and Ang, Rep. Greg Gasataya, Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran, councilors Cindy Rojas and Bartolome Orola, City Planning and Development Office head Mary Jean Ramos, City Treasurer Giovanni Balalilhe, Local Economic and Investment Promotions officer Jonah Javier, City Development Council vice chairman George Zulueta, and City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office administrative officer Bernadeth Montelibano were also present at the awarding. (With Bacolod City PIO/PN)
