QUEZON City remains firmly ensconced as the wealthiest among the country’s 147 cities, with assets totaling P443.406 billion as of the year end 2022, P7.6 billion lower than the P451.007 billion it declared in 2021.
Makati and Manila followed Quezon City in the list of 20 wealthiest cities.
Cebu kept its stranglehold on the distinction as wealthiest province with declared assets of P235.738 billion last year, up P20.47 billion from a year ago.
Carmona, Cavite also kept the top spot as wealthiest municipality on P6.523 billion assets, improving P311 million from P6.212 billion in 2021.
The figures can be found in the 258-page 2022 Annual Financial Report on Local Government released by the Commission on Audit late Monday. An electronic copy of the report may be accessed or downloaded from the COA’s official website.
Copies of the same report were submitted to the Office of the President, Office of the Senate President, and the Office of the Speaker on September 26, 2023.
The 2022 AFR on Local Government covered 81 provinces, 147 cities, and 1,487 municipalities.
WEALTHIEST CITIES
The five wealthiest cities in the country kept their respective spots from the previous year but Cebu City yielded the sixth spot to its neighbor Mandaue City while Parañaque City elbowed its way into the top 10 dropping Caloocan City by one rung.
The list of 20 wealthiest cities: Quezon, P443.406 billion; Makati, P239.478 billion; Manila, P77.506 billion; Pasig, P52.152 billion; Taguig, P40.84 billion; Mandaue, P34.231 billion; Cebu, P30.545 billion; Mandaluyong, P32.550 billion; Davao, P29.701 billion; Parañaque, P27.376 billion; Caloocan, P27.205 billion; Zamboanga, P23.408 billion; Laoag, P20.971 billion; Antipolo, P18.762 billion; Calamba, P18.585 billion; Pasay, P17.979 billion; Puerto Princesa, P16.798 billion; Baguio, P14.465 billion; Cagayan de Oro, P13.608 billion; and Valenzuela, P13.323 billion.
Within striking distance of the frontrunners are Dasmariñas in Cavite with assets totaling P13.26 billion, Las Piñas in Metro Manila with P13.229 billion, and Iligan in Lanao del Norte with P13.108 billion.
WEALTHIEST PROVINCES
Cebu, Rizal, Batangas, and Davao de Oro maintained their respective seats as the top four wealthiest provinces from 2021 but Ilocos Sur jumped two spots from seventh to fifth, edging Bukidnon which fell from fifth to sixth and Negros Occidental, from sixth to eighth.
Also gaining ground was Iloilo which clambered from eighth to seventh in the list.
Cavite wrested ninth spot from Isabela, while Pampanga also joined the top 10, dropping Palawan one rung.
The top 20 wealthiest provinces: Cebu, P235.738 billion; Rizal, P35.595 billion; Batangas, P31.999 billion; Davao de Oro, P23.108 billion; Ilocos Sur, P21.562 billion; Bukidnon, P21.058 billion; Iloilo, P19.977 billion; Negros Occidental, P19.419 billion; Cavite, P19.342 billion; Pampanga, P19.127 billion; Palawan, P18.135 billion; Leyte,P17.91 billion; Isabela, P17.892 billion; Surigao del Norte, P16.793 billion; Camarines Sur, P16.192 billion; Pangasinan, P15.897 billion; Zamboanga del Sur, P15.849 billion; Negros Oriental, P14.659 billion; Bulacan, P13.825 billion; and Nueva Ecija, P13.780 billion.
Breathing down Nueva Ecija’s neck are Agusan del Sur with P13.438 billion and Quezon with P13.203 billion.
WEALTHIEST MUNICIPALITIES
Carmona in Cavite, Limay in Bataan, and Silang also in Cavite remained the country’s top three wealthiest municipalities.
However, Cainta in Rizal lost the fourth spot to Caluya, Antique which was previously at seventh place.
The biggest gainer in this year’s rankings was Cabugao, Ilocos Sur which leapfrogged from ninth to fifth spot, dislodging Rizal municipalities Taytay (from fifth to seventh) and Binangonan (from sixth to ninth).
The top 20 wealthiest municipalities: Carmona, Cavite, P6.523 billion; Limay, Bataan, P5.792 billion; Silang, Cavite, P4.454 billion; Caluya, Antique, P3.822 billion; Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, P3.806 billion; Cainta, Rizal, P3.767 billion; Taytay, Rizal, P3.671 billion; Claver, Surigao del Norte, P3.568 billion; Binangonan, Rizal, P3.490 billion; Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur, P3.268 billion; Sta. Cruz, Ilocos Sur, P3.216 billion; Pilar, Abra, P3.203 billion; Magsingal, Ilocos Sur, P3.044 billion; Nasugbu, Batangas, P2.959 billion; Sinait, Ilocos Sur, P2.921 billion; Rodriguez, Rizal, P2.855 billion; Sual, Pangasinan, P2.645 billion; Bataraza, Palawan, P2.575 billion; Salcedo, Ilocos Sur, P2.550 billion; and Tanay, Rizal, P2.534 billion.
Trying to catch up are the municipalities of Aroroy, Masbate with P2.511 billion, Masinloc in Zambales with P2.449 billion, Mariveles in Bataan with P2.338 billion, and Mauban in Quezon with P2.320 billion.
