Naga is the country’s most competitive component city

By Aric John Sy Cua

THE city of Naga in Bicol Region has been declared as the most competitive component city in the country for the second straight year, its city government announced on Thursday, Oct 20, on its Facebook page.

Naga won the award at the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) 10th Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Summit held at the Philippine International Convention Center on the same day.

Under the Overall Most Competitive Component City category, Naga City beat Legazpi City in Albay and Antipolo City in Rizal to claim the top prize. They had also clinched the top rank under the Innovation category over Biñan, Laguna, and Legazpi City, Albay. The full list of awardees can be found on the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index Facebook page.

“This year, we have achieved rank 1 in Innovation Category; rank 2 under the Infrastructure and Resilience categories; and rank 6 in economic dynamism,” the city government and Mayor Nelson Legacion wrote on their Facebook pages. “Overall, we achieved the Top 1 placing of being the most competitive component in the entire Philippines!”

“This is such a proud moment for all of us! Congratulations, my dear Nagueños!” wrote Legacion on his social media page.

Former vice president Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo, herself from Naga City where her late husband, former interior secretary Jesse Robredo, once served as mayor, welcomed the development on her own social media account.

“Just learned the great news that Naga retained its place as the Overall Most Competitive Component City in the Philippines,” Robredo wrote on Thursday. “Thank you for the great work, Mayor Nelson [Legacion], Vice Mayor Nene [de Asis], and the entire Team Naga. Congratulations to all the Nagueños.”

Naga also won the award in last year’s Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Summit. The Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index is an annual ranking by the DTI’s Competitiveness Bureau. (The Manila Times)