DTI regional director Judith Angeles. File photo PIA-3
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Four local governmentunits in Central Luzon made it to the top three spots in separate categories for the most competitive cities and municipalities nationwide.
Malolos City earned the top spot for the Most Improved Component Cities, while Baliwag town in Bulacan bested other 1st to 2nd class municipalities in the country in terms of infrastructure.
Baliwag also ranked 3rd in overall competitiveness, 4thin terms of government efficiency, and 6th in resilienceand economic dynamism.
Baler in Aurora was ranked as the 3rd among all 3rd to 4th class municipalities in the country in terms of overall competitiveness. It also ranked 3rd in terms of infrastructure while it ranked 6th in terms of economic dynamism.
Sta. Maria town in Bulacan garnered the 3rd spotamong 1st to 2nd class municipalities in the country in terms of economic dynamism. It also ranked 5th in overall competitiveness.
Department of Trade and Industry regional director Judith Angeles said the ranking is based on the results of the 2020 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI), which shows economic development and competitiveness indicators among local government units.
“All participating LGUs were assessed based on four pillars namely economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, and resiliency. CMCI is developed by the National Competitiveness Council through the regional competitiveness committees with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development,” she explained.
Aside from these LGUs, other Central Luzon towns and cities included in the top 10 in different CMCI categories were Bacolor, City of San Fernando, and Sta. Rita in Pampanga; Marilao, Baliwag, Sta. Maria, Angat, Bustos, Bocaue, Paombong, Malolos, and San Jose Del Monte City in Bulacan. Also in the ranking were Talavera and Cabanatuan City in Nueva Ecija; Tarlac City; Subic and Olongapo Cityin Zambales. –– By Marie Joy S. Carbungco/PIA–3
