CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro – This city reaped citations in the recent Department of Trade and Industry Creative Cities and Municipalities Awards 2024.
DTI Secretary Cristina Aldeguer-Roque said Calapan City was No. 1 Most Competitive in Resiliency, Top 5 Most Competitive in Infrastructure, and Top 5 Overall Most Competitive City.
Mayor Malou F. Morillo received the awards from Roque in the presence of DTI-Region 4-B OIC Regional Director Rodolfo Mariposque and DTI-Oriental Mindoro chief Arnel Hutalla.
Morillo, in a social media post, said the awards mark another year of excellence for this city, which has consistently demonstrated its ability to withstand and recover from challenges, ranging from natural disasters to economic fluctuations.
This year’s resiliency award marked its fourth consecutive year that it has maintained the prestigious title.
She attributed the success to collaborative efforts between the local government, businesses, and residents.
“Calapan City’s commitment to building robust disaster preparedness system, fostering community resilience, and maintaining a strong local economy has been pivotal in securing its place at the top,” she said.
The DTI’s annual ranking of cities and municipalities across the country was based on governance, infrastructure, and the capacity to sustain long-term development.
The recognition highlights Calapan City as a model of resilience for other cities and municipalities across the country, the DTI said.
Last June, Morillo was in the list of Top Performing City Mayors in Region 4-A and 4-B (First Quarter of 2024).
The award was based from a comprehensive statistical survey conducted by RP Mission and Development Foundation which gave her an 82.3 percent job performance rating after Mayor Arlene Arcillas of Santa Rosa City, Laguna with 83.7 percent and Mayor Vicente Amante of San Pablo, Laguna, with 84.4 percent.
Morillo underscored the city’s role as a model for good governance and a thriving city that prioritizes the well-being of its residents while fostering a conducive environment for economic growth.
“Under my term, we have worked tirelessly to elevate Calapan from a third-class component city, and we are now on the brink of achieving second-class status. This journey of growth and development is a shared success, and it inspires us to continue striving for greater height,” Morillo said.