DTI-Western Visayas names region’s most competitive

By Joseph Bernard A. Marzan

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-Western Visayas on Nov. 4 honored the region’s top performers in economic competitiveness at the Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index (CMCI) Awards, recognizing cities, municipalities, and provinces excelling in key economic areas.

The regional office awarded Guimaras (province), Roxas City in Capiz (component city), and the municipalities of Kalibo in Aklan (1st to 2nd class), Leganes in Iloilo (3rd to 4th class), and San Lorenzo in Guimaras (5th to 6th class) as the most competitive in their respective categories.

Iloilo City, one of only two highly urbanized cities in the region, was also honored as the most competitive in its category, winning in all “pillars” of competitiveness: Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, Resiliency, and Innovation.

The city ranked 5th in the overall national CMCI, a one-place drop from last year, though its score improved to 52.29 from 51.04.

Cities, municipalities, and provinces were judged on their performance in each of the five pillars, which determined the overall winners.

The awards also recognized the region’s most improved cities and towns, reflecting significant improvements in their rankings.

In the component city category, Kabankalan, Victorias, and Escalante in Negros Occidental were named most improved, along with Janiuay in Iloilo (1st to 2nd class), Barotac Viejo in Iloilo (3rd to 4th class), and Libertad in Antique (5th to 6th class).

Barotac Viejo and Lemery, another Iloilo municipality, were among the most improved 3rd to 4th class municipalities nationwide, according to the 2024 CMCI rankings.

Francis Gentoral, Provincial Economic Development Officer of Guimaras, accepted the award and delivered remarks on behalf of Governor Joaquin Carlos Rahman Nava.

“Our economic assets in the province—our fishing grounds, our farms, and our tourism resources—are not just treasures but are cornerstones of our resilient blue and green economy that continues to grow, thrive, and become more resilient,” Gentoral read from Nava’s message.

“We have worked tirelessly to ensure that our roads, hospitals, and post-harvest facilities meet the needs of our constituents. These projects are not merely constructions of concrete and steel; they are pathways to the progress and prosperity of our beloved province,” he added.

2024 CMCI Awards Top Winners

Overall Most Competitive

• Province: Guimaras
• Highly Urbanized City (HUC): Iloilo City
• Component City: Roxas City, Capiz
• 1st-2nd Class Municipality: Kalibo, Aklan
• 3rd-4th Class Municipality: Leganes, Iloilo
• 5th-6th Class Municipality: San Lorenzo, Guimaras

Economic Dynamism

• HUC: Iloilo City
• Component City: Roxas City, Capiz
• 1st-2nd Class Municipality: Kalibo, Aklan
• 3rd-4th Class Municipality: Jordan, Guimaras
• 5th-6th Class Municipality: San Lorenzo, Guimaras

Government Efficiency

• HUC: Iloilo City
• Component City: Cadiz City, Negros Occidental
• 1st-2nd Class Municipality: Kalibo, Aklan
• 3rd-4th Class Municipality: Leganes, Iloilo
• 5th-6th Class Municipality: Mina, Iloilo

Infrastructure

• HUC: Iloilo City
• Component City: Sagay City, Negros Occidental
• 1st-2nd Class Municipality: Malay, Aklan
• 3rd-4th Class Municipality: Jordan, Guimaras
• 5th-6th Class Municipality: San Lorenzo, Guimaras

Resiliency

• HUC: Iloilo City
• Component City: Sagay City, Negros Occidental
• 1st-2nd Class Municipality: Tigbauan, Iloilo
• 3rd-4th Class Municipality: Concepcion, Iloilo
• 5th-6th Class Municipality: Buruanga, Aklan

Innovation

• HUC: Iloilo City
• Component City: Roxas City, Capiz
• 1st-2nd Class Municipality: Tigbauan, Iloilo
• 3rd-4th Class Municipality: Leganes, Iloilo
• 5th-6th Class Municipality: Belison, Antique

Most Improved

• Component Cities: Kabankalan, Victorias, & Escalante, Negros Occidental
• 1st-2nd Class Municipality: Janiuay, Iloilo
• 3rd-4th Class Municipality: Barotac Viejo, Iloilo
• 5th-6th Class Municipality: Libertad, Antique