Iloilo, Mina, and Passi City in PCCI business-friendly finals

By Mariela Angella Oladive

ILOILO CITY — Iloilo province has again made the top five finalists in the 2026 Most Business-Friendly Local Government Unit (LGU) Awards of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), extending its streak in the annual competition.

Iloilo is competing in the Provincial Level category against Camarines Sur, Cavite, Davao del Norte, and Tarlac.

Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. is scheduled to present the province’s entry on Sept. 23 in Manila.

Iloilo was also among the top five provincial finalists in 2025.

In 2024, the province ranked second and received a special citation from the PCCI for infrastructure initiatives supporting sustainable urban development and new growth centers.

 

Two Iloilo LGUs join the finals

Two local governments from the province are also in the 2026 finals.

Mina town is among the top five finalists in the Municipal Level 2 category, along with Dolores in Quezon, Magallanes in Cavite, Sampaloc in Quezon, and San Felipe in Zambales.

Mina was also a finalist in 2025, when it joined Guimbal and New Lucena among the top five in the same category.

Passi City is a top five finalist in the City Level 3 category, where it will compete against Alaminos City in Pangasinan, Baliwag City in Bulacan, Calaca City in Batangas, and Iriga City in Camarines Sur.

The PCCI’s Most Business-Friendly LGU Awards recognize local governments that promote trade and investment, improve transparency and accountability, deliver business services, and work with the private sector to support local economic development.

With the theme “Raising the Bar: Empowering Business for a Resilient Future,” this year’s awards focus on LGU innovations, practices, and initiatives that help businesses become sustainable and competitive.