THE City of San Fernando, Pampanga was once again named as one of the Philippines’ “most competitive” component cities, this time, for the year 2021, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.
Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago, City Administrator lawyer Atlee Viray, and key department heads and officers, received the award through the virtual Regional Competitiveness Summit held on February 10, 2022.
Gaining noteworthy ranks in the components of Economic Dynamism, Infrastructure, Government Efficiency, and Resiliency, San Fernando became the only city from Central Luzon to make it to the list of the Top Ten “overall competitive” component cities in the country.
Annually held by the DTI, the rankings are determined through the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) where provinces, cities, and municipalities in the country showcase their programs, projects, and activities under the said core components.
“As we received the award, I fully remembered the time last year [2021] when we were still preparing and making a lot of work just to send our entry to the prestigious CMCI – specifically the completion of our Data Capture Form with the help of our offices and personnel,” said Santiago in his acceptance speech.
In the Data Capture Form of San Fernando, figures were shown under the following areas: city’s local economy; operations of businesses; financial performances; health services; school services; peace and order situation; social protection; infrastructure projects; public transportation system; tourism; and, comprehensive development plans, among others.
For the City’s part, the collection of information, data, and evidence started in May 2021. All entries from local government units were then reviewed and deliberated by the National Competitiveness Council, with the help of Regional Competitiveness Committees guided by the members of the private, public, and academe sectors.
Results of the review and deliberation were released on January 2022. In the case of San Fernando, it was conveyed by DTI-Central Luzon Director Leonila Baluyut on January 28, 2022.
Meanwhile, Central Luzon’s provinces of Pampanga and Bulacan also gained ranks for the Top 10 Overall Competitiveness among the provinces.
Two Central LUzon municipalities also gained ranks in other categories including Baliwag, Bulacan for first and second classes and Baler, Aurora for third and fourth classes.
San Fernando also made it to the Top 10 list during the 2020 index. (PR)