- CHERYL G. CRUZ
Bacolod ranked ninth overall among 33 highly-urbanized cities (HUCs) in the 2022 rankings of the DTI-Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI), up three places from its 12th spot in 2021.
Bacolod made it big and ranked third to Quezon City and City of Manila in the newly-added Innovation Pillar of the CMCI, which is an annual ranking of cities and municipalities in the country that determines the competitiveness of local government units.
The other pillars are Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, and Resiliency, with Bacolod in the 20th, 6th, 9th, and 12th spot, respectively.
The National Competitiveness Council introduced the Innovation Pillar in 2021, and included it as the fifth gauge in the scoring and ranking for this year’s CMCI.
“Now more than ever, we realize the importance of innovation. They have played a crucial role in keeping societies functional in times of quarantines or lockdowns. The same technologies would be needed as we restart the economy and prepare for the post-crisis future,” the DTI had said in a PNA report. “We emphasize the importance of the innovation pillar as LGUs are starting to focus now on strengthening their own innovation policies and programs, and finding ways on how new technologies could be used to address issues pertaining to business registrations, permits, productivity, or financial deepening.”
Mayor Alfredo Benitez, in his first 3-month accomplishment report Oct. 8, said the city government has started developing online systems for city departments “as part of our commitment to digitalize government transactions”.
“The first to go online was the Office of the Building Official, the first step towards digitalization. Now, you can already apply online for business permits,” he added.
Benitez also earlier signed a memorandum of agreement with Ayala Malls Capitol Central to establish the Bacolod Express Service Office (Beso), which will house about 12 offices, and is expected to start operations in December.
“Through Beso, which is a one-stop-shop concept, our citizens will have easy and convenient access to basic government services,” he added.
The League of Cities of the Philippines Monday lauded the winners of the 2022 CMCI Awards, with Iloilo and Marikina tied in first place as the Most Improved HUCs in Rankings, and Bacolod and Angeles in fifth spot.
Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental, meanwhile, was the Most Improved LGU in the component cities category./CGC
