MOST COMPETITIVE CITY. Special Assistant to the President Secretary Christopher Lawrence "Bong" Go hands the award to Mayor Noel Rosal of Legazpi City, which was named as the country's Most Competitive City by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) under the Component City Category, besting 1,200 local government units nationwide. The awarding was held Aug. 16, 2018 at the Philippine International Convention Center. (PNA photo by Joseph Olalia Razon)

The city of Legazpi in Albay was adjudged the most competitive city in the country, according to the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).

Easily the most famous and most urbanized place in Bicolandia, Legazpi City topped 1,200 other local government units in the country.

City Mayor Noel E. Rosal expressed optimism that national and international investors would now consider the city as their business hub after it performed well at the index level set by the NCC.

Legazpi was named as the No. 1 competitive city by the NCC under the Component City Category in ceremonies held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila on Thursday.

Naga City was ranked No. 2 most competitive city in the country.

The ceremony was attended by members of the Makati Business Club, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PPCI), other big business owners and Cabinet officials.

Legazpi and Naga City have bested other 1,200 local government units across the country in the NCC’s competitiveness index rating by pursuing best practices in the fields of government efficiency, economic dynamism and infrastructure.

In a phone interview on Friday, Rosal said Legazpi was No. 1 in infrastructure development and No. 2 in economic dynamism, while Naga City was No. 2 in infrastructure development and No. 1 in economic dynamism.

“I was so elated when Legazpi was recognized as the overall champion competitive city in the entire country,” Rosal shared.

He said Legazpi’s competitiveness standing jumped from No. 3 in 2016, No. 5 in 2017 and finally, to No. 1 this year.

“Placing first among hundreds of component cities in the country is a big challenge for us and we need to prove it to the people of Legazpi that we are always working for the progress and development of our city,” he said.

According to the mayor, the NNC and the Department of Trade an Industry were very impressed with the development of infrastructure in Legazpi such as the flood control projects which they considered one of the best in the country.

“The recognition would give us more encouragement, dedication and drive to carry out investment friendly projects that would boost the economic standing of the city and its community,” Rosal said.

He likewise cited the city’s four-kilometer southern boulevard that was built through public-private partnership scheme.

The city administration is also constructing an 18-km., four-lane mega concrete road that would link several villages at the southern portion of this city in preparation for the operation of the international airport.

Meanwhile, Legazpi is the only local government unit in Bicol that has built and maintains a P100-million engineered sanitary landfill in partnership with the Spanish Cooperation Agency for International Development or AECID in Barangay Banquerohan.

The mayor said their waste management project has become a “showcase” of Legazpi’s best practice of not incurring debt in its operation and maintenance.

Rosal also cited the state-of-the-art P120-million, two-story Legazpi City Hospital that is considered one of the most modern hospitals in Bicol.

The mayor further noted the city’s economic dynamism, with billions of pesos invested by various business organizations that are now operating in Legazpi.

The Ayala Corporation, in a joint venture with Liberty Commercial Center, is now operating a four-story mall in the city’s central business district.

Rosal said the SM group of companies will open the SM City Legazpi on 14 September, this year.