BACOLOD City — Bacolod City ranked third among the fastest-growing highly urbanized cities (HUCs) in the Philippines in 2025, posting a 6.8-percent economic growth rate, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Mayor Greg Gasataya said the city’s growth rate placed Bacolod among the more than 33 highly urbanized cities nationwide that recorded the fastest economic expansion during the year.
Based on the PSA’s 2025 Provincial Product Accounts, Bacolod’s 6.8-percent growth rate placed it among the country’s leading HUC economies and made it one of the fastest-growing cities in the Visayas and nationwide.
The city improved significantly from its sixth-place ranking in 2024, moving up three places despite economic pressures, including the oil crisis that was expected to affect economic activity.
General Santos City ranked first, followed by Cagayan de Oro City in second, while Iloilo City placed fourth.
Gasataya welcomed Bacolod’s improved economic performance, saying the city government would continue efforts to sustain its economic momentum.
“We continue our work to maintain this momentum and ensure that this translates to more employment and business opportunities for Bacolodnons,” Gasataya said.
The latest figures underscore Bacolod’s continued economic expansion and growing competitiveness among highly urbanized cities across the country.
Gasataya said the challenge now is to sustain the growth and ensure that its benefits reach residents through increased investments, more employment opportunities, and stronger support for local businesses./PN
