GUIMARAS – The town of San Lorenzo was recognized as the “most competitive” municipality in the Philippines for year 2021 under the category of fifth to sixth class municipalities.
Ranked 142nd in 2020, San Lorenzo made the highest leap to make it to the top spot.
Mayor Ninfa Gajo accepted the recognition during the 10th Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Summit at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City on Thursday, Oct. 20.
The mayor expressed gratitude to the provincial government and Cong. Ma. Lucille L. Nava for all the support given to San Lorenzo through various development projects which is one of the reasons why the town topped the competitiveness ranking.
The competitiveness ranking of areas in the country is based on economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, resiliency, and innovation.
San Lorenzo ranked second in innovation, fourth in infrastructure and in economic dynamism and placed sixth in the “Most Improved LGU”.
For her part, Catherine Ann L. Gaurana, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator and designated focal person for the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index, said the recognition is the result of the collaborative efforts of all stakeholders toward a common goal to improve the lives of the people of San Lorenzo.
Sustaining the economy despite the COVID-19 pandemic to provide right services for their citizens was a big factor that the town topped the competitiveness ranking, said Gaurana.
She added that one of the keys to the success of San Lorenzo is the leadership of Gajo who always reminds them to aim for excellence and the cooperation of the barangays.
Also, big infrastructure projects in the town such as road networks were a big help.
Gaurana said that this award is a step closer to the goal of Gajo to lift San Lorenzo into a second class or first class municipality.
The annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities was developed by the National Competitiveness Council through the Regional Competitiveness Committees (RCCs) with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development.
The initiative assesses “how a city or municipality knows its resources and how it uses these to improve its standard of living”. (With a report from Guimaras PIO)/PN
