BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya (PIA) -- The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) have recognized four Local Government Units (LGUs) in the province for being competitive in their governance.

The awardees were the LGUs Solano, Bambang, Kasibu and Kayapa which received the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) recognition from the DTI.

CMCI is an annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities developed by the National Competitiveness Council and the DTI through the Regional Competitiveness Committees (RCCs).

It is a tool used to measure LGUs’ performance on five pillars: Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, Resilience, and Innovation.

The award was given during the 6th Cagayan Valley Regional Competitiveness Forum and 2022 CMCI Awarding Ceremony held by the Department of Trade and Industry Region 2 and the Department of the Interior and Local Government Region 2 at Go Hotels Plus, Tuguegarao City, Cagayan recently.

The LGU of Bambang received the award as the 14th Most Improved 1st - 2nd Class Municipality; the 30th Most Competitive 1st - 2nd Class Municipality under the Economic Dynamism Pillar award for the LGU of Solano; the 11th Most Competitive 3rd - 4th Class Municipality under the Government Efficiency Pillar award for the LGU of Kasibu; and the 23rd Most Improved 3rd - 4th Class Municipality award for the LGU of Kayapa.

The awards were received by Mayor Elizabeth Balasya of LGU Kayapa, Mayor Romeo Tayaban of LGU Kasibu, BPLO Regene Lopez, MPDC Daniel Dacquel, and Ms. Samantha Domingo from LGU Bambang, and MPDC Jasper Crisostomo, BPLO Razzel Liddasan, and MDRRMO Louie Sagadraca of LGU Solano.

The paper of Saint Mary’s University entitled "A Comparative Analysis of 2019 and 2020 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) of Nueva Vizcaya" that topped the research tilt during the 1st Cagayan Valley Regional CMCI Research Conference held on August 31, 2022, was also presented during the event.

DTI Regional Director Leah Pulido Ocampo said the LGUs recognitions were a product of collaborative linkages and efforts between different agencies, sectors, and the academe to help the LGUs improve their competitiveness through Research and Development.

DTI NV Provincial Director Marietta  Salviejo and DILG NV Provincial Director Maria Loida  Urmatam jointly praised the awardees for  continuously exemplifying the innovative and vibrant spirit, competitiveness, and resiliency of the Novo Vizcayanos. (MDCT/BME/PIA Nueva Vizcaya)