BACOLOD City – This capital city being the No. 8 most competitive highly-urbanized city (HUC) in the Philippines means challenge for local leaders, said Mayor Evelio “Bing” Leonardia.
The feat must “inspire us to do better,” stressed Leonardia, adding that the local officials must make sure that the city’s performance would “not deteriorate.”
The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) declared Bacolod as one of the top 10 most competitive HUCs in the country during its Competitiveness Summit and Awards held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Metro Manila last week.
Bacolod also ranked No. 1 as the most competitive HUC in Visayas.
“This is something to be proud of,” Leonardia said.
NCC’s ranking was based on “four pillars” of 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.
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 ranking this year is a “big leap” from last year’s No. 20 ranking, according to Councilor Em Ang.
Leonardia said city officials must maintain the “growth momentum.”
He also appealed to other stakeholders, especially the business sector, to help in achieving an “even higher” feat./PN
