Top LGUs recognized
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - The Department of Trade and Industry Region III (DTI-3) on Friday recognized several local government units (LGUs) in the region which topped the list of Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI).
At least 15 province, cities and municipalities were hailed as among the Most Competitive LGUs in the country.
The LGUs were ranked by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) during the 1st Central Luzon Regional Awarding Ceremonies held at The Orchid Gardens here.
In the pillar of Economic Dynamism, the City of San Fernando placed 8th in the national ranks for the Competitive City level, while Bacolor, Pampanga and Pura in Tarlac placed 8th and 6th respectively in the national ranks for the 3rd to 6th Class Municipality level.
The Municipality of Baliwag in Bulacan placed 10th in the Government Efficiency Pillar national ranks for 1st to 2nd Class Municipality level while San Felipe in Zambales was 6th and Pura in Tarlac was the 1st in the national for 3rd to 6th Class Municipality level.
In the roster of Infrastructure Pillar, Mabalacat City and City Of San Fernando in Pampanga bagged the 10th and 5th places, respectively, in the national ranks for Component City level, while Mariveles, Bataan was 9th, Guagua, Pampanga was 6th, and Baliwag, Bulacan was 2nd in the 1st to 2nd Class Municipality level.
Balanga City, Bataan, and Gapan City in Nueva Ecija bagged the 10th and 3rd place in the Resilience Pillar national ranks for Component City category while Cabiao, Nueva Ecija placed 2nd for the 1st to 2nd Class Municipality level and Zaragosa in Nueva Ecija claimed the 3rd spot for the 3rd to 6th Class Municipality level.
For the Overall Competitiveness category which was based on the sum of scores on the four main pillars, the City of San Fernando was the only component city in the region to mark a place in the national ranks and placed 5th.
Baliwag town also placed 9th in the same category for the 1st to 2nd Class Municipality level, while San Simon, Pampanga placed 9th, Baler, Aurora was 7th and Pura, Tarlac bagged the top spot for the 3rd to 6th Class Municipality level.
Mabalacat City in Pampanga bagged the top spot for the Most Improved LGUs in the country, while Balanga in Bataan came 6th for the same category in Component City category.
Five municipalities including Orani, Bataan (10th), Jaen, Nueva Ecija (9th), Capas, Tarlac (8th), Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija (4th), and Iba, Zambales were also named as Most Improved LGUs in the 1st to 2nd Class Municipality level, while Zaragosa, Nueva Ecija came in 2nd in the list for the 3rd to 6th Class Municipality level.
Former NCC Co-Chair Guillermo Luz, who served as guest speaker in the event, said that the recognitions serve as gauging factor for business and locators who are looking for places to invest, especially outside of Metro Manila.
“Aside from the accolade and bragging rights, this recognitions will beneficial for inviting companies, both local and multi-nationals, to invest in their respective cities and municipalities because the criteria used in coming up with the list are comprehensive and are based on the performances of the LGUs,” he said.