The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Region 4A congratulates the Rizal Province for bagging the Most Competitive Province in the country for the fifth time, along with the winner cities and municipalities in the CALABARZON Region for different categories, during the 8th Regional Competitiveness (RC) Summit by the DTI-Competitiveness Bureau through the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) on 16 December 2020 via Facebook Live. The Region bagged 21 out of the 111 awards in the Summit.

This year, 1,518 local government units participated in the CMCI–an annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities developed by the National Competitiveness Council through the Regional Competitiveness Committees (RCCs) with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development. Rankings of Cities and Municipalities are based on the sum of their scores on the Four Pillars: Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, and Resiliency. Provincial rankings are based on population and income weighted average of the overall scores of cities and municipalities under a province.

During the Summit, 1st Placer for Best Research Paper, Rina Abner of the Partido State University, presented the 2020 CMCI Academic Symposium. DTI Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba also provided an overview of the launching of the CMCI Data Analytics Platform.

Moreover, a Memorandum of Understanding between Liveable Cities Philippines and the DTI and Joint Memorandum Circular Signing on the Mandatory Submission of the List of Business Establishments Registered in the City and Municipality between the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the DTI took place before the Awarding Ceremony for the Most Competitive Cities and Municipalities.

Under the Economic Dynamism, Cainta, Rizal bagged 1st Place for the 1st and 2nd Class Municipalities. Calamba, Laguna, and Dasmarinas, Cavite placed 2nd and 3rd Place, respectively, for the Component Cities.

Under the Efficiency, CALABARZON got all the awards for the 1st and 2nd Class Municipalities: Cainta, Rizal as 1st Placer; Taytay, Rizal as 2nd Placer; and Silang, Cavite as the 3rd Placer. Moreover, Taal, Batangas and Alaminos, Laguna were awarded the 2nd and 3rd Place, respectively, for the 3rd and 4th Class Municipalities. Pakil, Laguna won 2nd Place for the 5th and 6th Class Municipalities. For Component Cities, Antipolo, Rizal placed 2nd while Dasmarinas, Cavite placed 3rd.

Under the Infrastructure, Cainta, Rizal was awarded 3rd Place for the 1st and 2nd Class Municipalities. On the other hand, Antipolo, Rizal got 2nd Place for Component Cities.

Under the Resiliency, San Mateo, Rizal attained 2nd Place for the 1st and 2nd Class Municipalities, Pagsanjan, Laguna as 2nd Placer for the 3rd and 4th Class Municipalities, and Antipolo, Rizal as 3rd Place for Component Cities.

For the Best Practices Award, Dolores, Quezon won 2nd Place.

For the Overall Most Competitive Local Government Units, the Region also won big as Cainta, Rizal achieved 1st Place and Taytay, Rizal the 2nd Place for the 1st and 2nd Class Municipalities. Antipolo, Rizal was awarded 1st Place for Component Cities.

“We commend the cities, municipalities, and provinces in the CALABARZON Region who participated in this year’s RC Summit. It’s been a tough year for all of us, yet they attested that this pandemic is not a hindrance to improve and serve the public better. Congratulations to all the winners and participants! We, in the DTI, is with you in this endeavor for the improvement and progress of our nation,” said CALABARZON Regional Competitiveness Chair and DTI CALABARZON Director Marilou Q. Toledo.♦

Date of Release: 18 December 2020