The Regional Competitiveness Council (RCC) recognized competitive local government units (LGUs) excelling in the four pillars of economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, and resiliency.

Chaired by the DTI VI, the RCC is now on its 3rd year of giving citation to standout LGUs in the region. The activity was attended by local chief executives and or their representatives held at Hotel Del Rio on Monday, December 16.

The RCC awarded 51 citations which aimed to inspire and encourage LGUs to become more competitive in order to encourage investors in their localities to boost local economy.

Economic Dynamism is associated with activities that create stable expansion of businesses and industries and higher employment.

Government Efficiency refers to the quality and reliability of government services and government support for effective and sustainable productive expansion.

Infrastructure, which refers to the physical building blocks that connect, expand and sustain a locality and its surroundings to enable the provision of goods and services.

Resiliency refers to the ability of the people, households, communities, countries, and systems to mitigate, adapt to and recover from shocks and stresses and manner that reduces chronic vulnerability and facilitates inclusive growth.

The RCC is chaired by DTI Regional Director Rebecca M. Rascon, vice chair from the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Iloilo, co-vice chair is DILG, and members are NEDA, DICT and PSA.

The Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index is an annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities developed by the National Competitiveness Council with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development.

The CMCI survey is facilitated by the RCCs using competitiveness indicator systems as guidelines in forming the framework behind the Index. Cities and municipalities are ranked on their competitiveness based on an overall competitiveness score.

The awardees were:

3^rd – 6^th Class Municipalities

• Economic Dynamism – (1) Guimbal, Iloilo (2) Pontevedra, Negros Occidental (3) Jordan, Guimaras
• Government Efficiency – (1) Alimodian, Iloilo (2) New Washington, Aklan (3) Leganes, Iloilo
• Infrastructure – (1) Zarraga, Iloilo (2) Guimbal, Iloilo (3) Alimodian, Iloilo
• Resiliency – (1) Ivisan, Capiz (2) Candoni, Negros Occidental (3) Panit-an, Capiz
• Most Improved – (1) Belison, Antique (2) Candoni, Negros Occidental (3) Mambusao, Capiz

1^st – 2^nd Class Municipalities

• Economic Dynamism – (1) Calinog, Iloilo (2) Malay, Aklan (3) Kalibo, Aklan
• Government Efficiency – (1) Sta. Barbara, Iloilo (2) Kalibo, Aklan (3) San Jose, Antique
• Infrastructure – (1) Malay, Aklan (2) Kalibo, Aklan (3) Tigbauan, Iloilo
• Resiliency – (1) Tigbauan, Iloilo (2) Malay, Aklan (3) Cabatuan, Iloilo
• Most Improved – (1) Calinog, Iloilo (2) Pototan, Iloilo (3) Dumangas, Iloilo

Component Cities

• Economic Dynamism – (1) Roxas City, Capiz (2) San Carlos City, Negros Occidental (3) Silay City, Negros Occidental
• Government Efficiency – (1) Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental (2) Silay City, Negros Occidental (3) Sagay City, Negros Occidental
• Infrastructure – (1) Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental (2) San Carlos City, Negros Occidental (3) Roxas City, Capiz
• Resiliency – (1) Cadiz City, Negros Occidental (2) San Carlos City, Negros Occidental (3) Sagay City, Negros Occidental
• Most Improved – (1) Silay City, Negros Occidental (2) Sagay City, Negros Occidental (3) Sipalay City, Negros Occidental

Highly Urbanized Cities

• Economic Dynamism – Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
• Government Efficiency – Iloilo City, Iloilo
• Infrastructure – Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
• Resiliency – Iloilo City, Iloilo
• Most Improved Highly Urbanized City – Iloilo City, Iloilo

Most Competitive Province

• Province of Aklan

♦ Date of Release: 23 December 2019