The Provincial Government of Camarines Sur, in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), held the Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index (CMCI) Reorientation and Workshop on Data Collection and Uploading on September 8-9, 2025 at the Digital Transformation Center, Cadlan, Pili.
The event brought together 56 CMCI Focal persons and representatives from districts 1-5. Personnel from the DTI Bureau of Competitiveness Development, headed by Sheryl Santos, Chief - National Quality and Competitiveness Division, served as resource speakers in the two-day workshop.
The CMCI is an annual ranking tool in the Philippines that measures the competitiveness of cities and municipalities according to five key pillars: Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, Resilience, and Innovation. This tool helps LGUs in improving their performance and fostering inclusive growth.
The workshop addressed the Competitiveness Index and its importance to LGUs, an overview of the CMCI, updates on the CMCI 2025 cycle, Camarines Sur's 2024 performance, tips for the Competitive Index, the five pillars of competitiveness, a walkthrough of the DTI website, and features and navigation of the CMCI portal. In the said portal, there is a Local Data Capture Sheet where the CMCI Focal should completely and accurately fill in 50 indicators, one of which corresponds to two (2) points to make a hundred percent score.
One of the second contributors in the province’s CMCI 2024 rank is the municipality of Bula, which scored 7.6% of the total score. Municipal Mayor Manuel A. Ibasco Jr of Bula shared that they had achieved it through closer coordination with NGAs, and they will maintain and even surpass it in this year’s CMCI.
“Strengthened by our closer coordination and improved access to National Government Agencies (NGAs) that provide technical support, guidance, and additional opportunities to enrich our programs, everything turns out to be in proper place,” he said.
“We acknowledge that there is still much to be done. Growth is a path, not a destination. But step by step, day by day, LGU Bula moves with determination, with a service-driven heart, and with the shared hope of every Bulaeño and Bulaeña — to create a town that is not only competitive but compassionate, not only resilient but radiantly alive with opportunity,” the mayor furthered.
Meanwhile, Provincial Director Jay Percival Ablan of DTI-Camarines Sur shared that more than the ranking, they want LGUs to appreciate the CMCI as a form of evaluation and tool.
“Dahil naga-upload ka kan mga data, itong mga status kan maniba-ibang LGUs duman sa nasabing 5 pillars, in a way, nahihiling mo kung sain nagpeperform an banwaan mo, an ciudad mo, and sain man itong medyo dehado ka. So, gustong sabihon pwede ining maging tool para mas ma-improve mo pa an banwaan mo,” he said.
Provincial Director Ablan commended the Provincial Government under Governor Lray Villafuerte for leading this year’s CMCI workshops and ensuring accessible data for LGUs.
“An hagad mi na lang talaga is maging masinop, maging mahigos, and talagang i-upload an mga data. That’s also for their own good, ‘diba kasi mataas man an ranking kan mga LGUs ninda, at the same time magkakaigwang better picture kung nasain na an banwaan ninda,” he furthered.
