P50B SOLAR INVESTMENT ON THE WAY: Cadiz hailed as No. 1 competitive component city in Negros

Cadiz City has been recognized as the most competitive component city on Negros Island in the 2024 cycle of the Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index (CMCI) by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Following Cadiz are the cities of Kabankalan, Sagay, Victorias, and Talisay, which ranked second to fifth, respectively.

In Western Visayas, Cadiz placed second overall, trailing only Roxas City in Capiz.

Within the Visayas region, Cadiz ranked seventh, with Tagbilaran City, Bohol taking the top spot, followed by Ormoc City, Leyte (2nd), Danao City, Cebu (3rd), Roxas City, Capiz (4th), Bogo City, Cebu (5th), and Baybay City, Leyte (6th).

DTI’s CMCI assessment of the competitiveness of local governments across the country is based on five key areas: economic dynamism, resiliency, infrastructure, government efficiency, and innovation.

Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr. attributed the city’s recent achievement in the CMCI to the residents of Cadiz.

“We wouldn’t have achieved this prestigious accolade from DTI for two consecutive years without the progressive-minded and resilient Cadizeños,” Escalante said.

He noted that the nearly complete concreting of farm-to-market roads in Cadiz’s rural villages has already brought significant benefits to the city and its inhabitants.

Adding to Cadiz’s robust infrastructure development are the ongoing constructions of the Cadiz City Sports Center (CCSC) in Barangay Tinampa-an and the rehabilitation of the city park.

Cadiz is also building its own 50-bed capacity city hospital and a city college.

In addition to the existing 132-megawatt (MW) solar farm operated by Helios, Cadiz is set to host two more solar farms from Aboitiz and SM Prime, expected to bring in around P50 billion in investments, according to Escalante.

Cadiz is also gaining recognition for its innovative approaches, particularly in agricultural development, which led the city government to win the recent “Walang Gutom” award from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Additionally, the city’s coffee, pineapple, and coconut ventures are now making significant progress.

In terms of environmental conservation, Cadiz takes pride in its two-hectare giant clam village located at Lakawon Beach in Barangay Cadiz Viejo.

The three-year-old conservation area, known as G.C. Ville, is now home not only to endangered giant clams but also to a variety of marine species.

Regarding resiliency, Cadiz’s barangays are equipped with state-of-the-art emergency vehicles for quick response, ensuring the safety of patients during transport to and from hospitals.

Cadiz is also noted for its 11-minute standard operating procedure (SOP) for approving and releasing business permit applications or renewals.

This innovative approach aligns with Republic Act 11032 (Ease of Doing Business), aimed at attracting more investors to Cadiz, now dubbed the “Land of Splendid Opportunities.”

Meanwhile, in addition to Cadiz and Sagay, the town of Manapla ranked 25th among the first and second-class municipalities in Western Visayas, making all three local governments within the 2nd Congressional District of Negros Occidental competitive on a national level.