All efforts rendered by the local government of Lapu-lapu City has paid off. Among the 146 component cities and 33 highly-urbanized cities in the Philippines, Lapu-lapu City became one of the 2019 Most Improved City on the recent survey released and developed by the National Competitiveness Council through the Regional Competitiveness Committees.
As stated in the CMCI website, Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index is an annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities made by the National Competitiveness Council through the Regional Competitiveness Committees with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development. It is managed by the Competitiveness Bureau of the Department of Trade and Industry.
How Cities and Municipalities in the Philippines are Ranked?
All cities and municipalities in the Philippines are ranked based on the sum of their scores on Four Pillars: Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, and Resiliency. Indicators for each pillar are as follows:
Local Economy Size, Local Economy Growth, Local Economy Structure, Safety Compliant Business, Increase in Employment, Cost of Living, Cost of Doing Business, Financial Deepening, Productivity, Presence of Business and Professional Organizations
Compliance to National Directives, Presence of Investment Promotion Unit,
Business Registration Efficiency, Capacity to Generate Local Resource, Capacity of Health Services, Capacity of School Services,
Recognition of Performance, Compliance to Business Permits and Licensing System (BPLS) Standards, Peace and Order, and Social Protection
Road Network, Distance to Ports, Availability of Basic Utilities, Transportation Vehicles, Education, Health, LGU Investment, Accommodation Capacity, Information Technology Capacity, and Financial Technology Capacity
Land Use Plan, Disaster Risk Reduction Plan, Annual Disaster Drill, Early Warning System, Budget for DRRMP, Local Risk Assessments, Emergency Infrastructure, Utilities, Employed Population, and Sanitary System
Top 10 Most Improved Cities (Highly Urbanized Cities)
Here are the 2019 Most Improved Cities in the Philippines:
| RANKING | CITY |
| 1st | Valenzuela City |
| 1st | Malabon City |
| 2nd | Angeles City |
| 3rd | Paranaque City |
| 3rd | Caloocan City |
| 4th | Baguio City |
| 4th | Lapu-lapu City |
| 4th | Butuan City |
| 5th | Muntinlupa City |
| 5th | Iloilo City |
Meanwhile, Cebu City dropped several notches from its 9th spot to the 12th spot in the 2019 Highly Urbanized Cities Ranking. Still reigning at the top are Quezon City, Manila City, and Davao City.
