Cadiz hailed as No. 1 competitive component city in Negros

P50 billion solar investment coming in

Cadiz City is currently hailed as the number one competitive component city in the entire Negros Island in the 2024 Cyle of Awardees for the Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index (CMCI) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

Cadiz was followed by the cities of Kabankalan, Sagay, Victorias and Talisay in second to fifth places, respectively.

In the entire Western Visayas, Cadiz trailed the over-all number one Roxas City in Capiz.

While in the Visayas Region, Cadiz is the 7th placer with Tagbilaran City, Bohol as number one followed by Ormoc City in Leyte ( 2nd), Danao City, Cebu (3rd), Roxas City, Capiz (4th), Bogo City, Cebu (5th) and Baybay City, Leyte (6th).

DTI’s CMCI assessment on the competitiveness of all local governments (cities and towns) across the country was based on five areas – dynamism, resiliency, infrastructures, government efficiencies and innovation.

Cadiz Mayor Salvador Escalante Jr said he attributed their recent feat in the CMCI to all Cadizeños.

“We can’t achieve this prestigious accolade from DTI for two consecutive years now if not for the progressive-minded and resilient Cadizeños,” he said.

Escalante said the concreting of almost 100% of farm-to-market roads in Cadiz rural villages had already spelled lot of “goodness” for the city and its inhabitants.

Adding to Cadiz’s robust infra developments are the ongoing constructions of Cadiz City Sports Center (CCSC) in Barangay Tinampa-an and the rehabilitation of the city park.

Cadiz is also building its own 50- bed capacity city hospital and a city college as well.

Aside from the existing 132-megawatt (MW) solar farm by Helios, Cadiz is also set to host two more solar farms from Aboitiz and SM Prime estimated to bring in around P50 billion investments, said Escalante.

Cadiz is also known now for its innovative approaches, especially on agricultural development that led the city government to win the recent “Walang Gutom” tilt by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Likewise, its coffee, pineapple, and coconut ventures are now gaining grounds.

In terms of environmental conservation, Cadiz prides its two-hectare giant clam village located at Lakawon Beach in Barangay Cadiz Viejo.

The three-year-old giant conservation haven known as G.C. Ville is now home not only to endangered giant clams, but also to many marine species.

In terms of resiliency, Cadiz’s barangays were already equipped of the state-of-the-art emergency vehicles for quick responses, ensuring the safety of patients while being transported to and from the hospitals.

Cadiz, meanwhile, is now known for its 11-minute standard operating procedure (SOP) in approving and releasing business permit application or renewal.

Such an innovative tactic is the city’s compliance with Republic Act 11032 (Ease of Doing Business) aimed at enticing more investors to explore Cadiz now dubbed as the “Land of Splendid Opportunities”.

Meanwhile, aside from Cadiz and Sagay, the town of Manapla also ranked 25th among the first- and second-class municipalities in Western Visayas, making all the three local governments within the 2nd Congressional District of Negros Occidental really competitive in the entire country.* (PR)