Donna Rose Ratilla receives the award from DTI Asst. Secretary Demphna Du-Naga (extreme left), DTI-6 Regional Director Rebecca M. Rascon (second from left) and RICCC Chairperson Ma. Luisa Segovia (right) in behalf of the Iloilo City Government.

The Regional Development Council (RDC) in Region VI presented a total of 57 awards to local government units (LGU) in Western Visayas during the 2^nd RDC VI Recognition Ceremony of Competitive LGUs at The Avenue in Smallville Complex, Mandurriao, Iloilo City on 16 November 2018.

The recognition ceremony is a joint undertaking by the RDC VI and the DTI-6.

Donna Rose O. Ratilla, president of the Phil. Chamber of Commerce and Industry-Western Visayas Chapter, said that the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) survey “makes it possible for LGUs to gauge its performance” alongside other LGUs in the country in terms of economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure development and resiliency.”

“This activity is a brainchild of the RDC VI aimed at recognizing the concerted efforts at the local level to improving their performance in the CMCI survey,” said Ratilla, also the co-chairperson of RDC VI.

“With the honor that comes with being recognized as a competitive local government unit comes the bigger responsibility of living up to the title. This means that to be competitive, you have to do better and be better that what you already are,” she added.

Ratilla encouraged the LGUs to “take advantage” of the competitiveness index survey to enable them to assess their strengths and weaknesses. “Make the CMCI a guide for making evidence-based plans and policy choices promoting more inclusive and sustainable economic growth.”

DTI Asst. Secretary Demphna Du-Naga urged LGUs to continuously work to improve or maintain their positive performances to enhance competitiveness alongside with micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“We  should  continue  to improve   our  business  enabling  environment  so  that our  communities  continue  to become supportive  of  our  national  goal  of   improving  our  global  competitiveness  ranking,” Du-Naga said.

DTI-6 Regional Director Rebecca.M. Rascon, on the other hand, said that with the presence of Negosyo Centers in the LGUs, the DTI is ready to assist in their economic activities, especially on the needs of the MSMEs.

The following are the awardees:

3rd – 6th Class Municipality
Economic Dynamism
1^st – Pontevedra, Negros Occidental
2^nd – Dumalag, Capiz
3^rd – Patnongon, Antique

Government Efficiency
1^st – Leganes, Iloilo
2^nd – Tangalan, Aklan
3^rd – Mina, Iloilo

Infrastructure
1^st – Pontevedra, Negros Occidental
2^nd – Balasan, Iloilo
3^rd – Cuartero, Capiz

Resiliency
1^st – Ivisan, Capiz
2^nd – Pontevedra, Negros Occidental
3^rd – Tangalan, Aklan

Most Improved
1^st – Malinao, Aklan
2^nd – Dao, Capiz
3^rd – Balasan, Iloilo

Overall
1^st – Pontevedra, Negros Occidental
2^nd – Ivisan, Capiz
3^rd – Balasan, Iloilo

1st – 2nd Class Municipality
Economic Dynamism
1^st – La Castellana, Negros Occidental
2^nd – Kalibo, Aklan
3^rd – Malay, Aklan

Government Efficiency
1^st – San Jose, Antique
2^nd – Sta. Barbara, Iloilo
3^rd – Malay, Aklan

Infrastructure
1^st – Malay, Aklan
2^nd – Kalibo, Aklan
3^rd – Cabatuan, Iloilo

Resiliency
1^st – Lambunao, Iloilo
2^nd – Malay, Aklan
3^rd – Miag-ao, Iloilo

Most Improved
1^st – San Jose, Antique
2^nd – Kalibo, Aklan
3^rd – Sibalom, Antique

Overall
1^st – Malay, Aklan
2^nd – Kalibo, Aklan
3^rd – San Jose, Antique

All Cities
Economic Dynamism
1^st – Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
2^nd – Iloilo City, Iloilo
3^rd – Victorias City, Negros Occidental

Government Efficiency
1^st – Iloilo City, Iloilo
2^nd – Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
3^rd – Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental

Infrastructure
1^st – Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
2^nd – Iloilo City, Iloilo
3^rd – Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental

Resiliency
1^st – Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
2^nd – Iloilo City, Iloilo
3^rd – Passi City, Iloilo

Most Improved
1^st – Cadiz City, Negros Occidental
2^nd – Victorias City, Negros Occidental
3^rd – Iloilo City, Iloilo

Overall
1^st – Bacolod City, Negros Occidental
2^nd – Iloilo City, Iloilo
3^rd – Cadiz City, Negros Occidental

Most Competitive Province in Region 6
1^st – Aklan
2^nd – Negros Occidental
3^rd – Capiz♦

Date of release: 23 November 2018