Dynamic, advanced, developed–these are what cities are all about. The prospect of living in a city continues to entice Filipinos looking for pastures greener than the predominantly rural countryside. And it seems the same applies to local and foreign businesses. For quite some time, it looked like economic activity will always take place in cities all over the country. These days, local and foreign investments have been slowly shaping municipalities that could be the country’s next ten cities.

Metro Manila, for one, was for a long time composed of only four cities (Quezon City, Pasay, Manila, Caloocan) and 13 municipalities. But in the 1990s, with the bustling economic activities in the municipalities, cityhood has become the local governments’ goal, successfully attained by nine more municipalities in Metro Manila (Mandaluyong, Pasig, Makati, Muntinlupa, Marikina, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Valenzuela, and Malabon).

What mainly differentiates a city from a municipality are income and population. Beyond these two indicators, however, Philippine Business recognizes the makings of a city by virtue of selected leading business establishments and services located in a given municipality – fast food chains, banks, courier services, gas stations, drug stores, shopping malls, cell sites, cable TV services, telephone services and internet service providers. The presence of these indicators are clear manifestations that there is an increasing demand not only to provide the basic services, but to modernize the locals’ way of life. The municipalities of Cainta, Sta. Rosa, Bacoor, Biñan, Dasmariñas, Imus, Malolos, Meycauayan, Rosario and Taytay – the “ring” around Metro Manila – may just very well be a good bet for urbanized living. Malolos gets a head start.

Malolos, Bulacan
A forty-five kilometer-drive north of Metro Manila takes you to the municipality of Malolos, Bulacan. Malolos serves as home to 175,291 residents. In 2001, it exhibited an efficient management of funds as it registered a budget surplus of more than P2 milllion from an income of almost P127 million and an expenditure of P124.5 million. It was a good time for Malolos to fight for cityhood, and so it was when, by virtue of Republic Act 8754 signed in October 2002, Malolos was declared a city.

To date, Malolos City boasts of major banks, fastfood chains, landline telephone service providers and internet service providers in the area. On top of that, investment locations such as Bulacan Agro-Industrial Subdivision and First Bulacan Industrial City can be found in this new city.

Though Malolos is moving up the industrial ladder, locals still produce traditional products such as native delicacies, bags and seafood items. Aside from farming, fishing and gardening, residents are becoming more engaged in business and cottage industry. The municipality government stresses the need to upgrade its water supply by year 2008, recognizing the consistent growth of population and economic activities that will require more water resources.

Cainta, Rizal
Located at the Southern Tagalog province of Rizal, Cainta has a 242,511-strong population.

Residents need not go farther to shop since the area has its own malls– Robinson’s Cainta, Sta. Lucia East Grand Mall and wholesale mall Makro Cainta. Industrial establishments such as Centertronics Power Corporation which produces power supplies, battery chargers and Serg’s Products can be found in Cainta. But more than this, the municipality has developed into a primary location for residential subdivisions.

Sta. Rosa, Laguna
Sta. Rosa, Laguna stretches to 3,910 hectares, and serves as home to 185,633 inhabitants and key commercial and industrial establishments. To date, leading companies such as Jollibee, Mercury Drug, Petron, DHL, LBC, BPI and Metrobank have their branches in Sta. Rosa. Globe runs a cell site while PLDT, Digitel and PT&T offer landline telephone services and Sky offers cable TV services. The internet has likewise found its niche in Sta. Rosa through internet service providers Moscom and Sky. Recently, Robinson’s Land Corporation opened its Robinson’s mall in Sta. Rosa.

Apart from commercial establishments, industrial establishments abound in Sta. Rosa, such as the Laguna Technopark IV. Balibago Land Corporation installed its Greenfield Automatic Parks I & II while Toyota Motors Philippines Corporation established its Toyota Sta. Rosa Special Economic Zones I & II, all intended for manufacturing automotive parts. Another development is the Sta. Rosa Business Park, established by Greenfield Development Corporation, ideal for light and medium industries.

Bacoor, Cavite
The northernmost municipality of Bacoor is Cavite’s gateway to Metro Manila. Home to 305,699 residents, Bacoor has been classified as a 1st class, urban municipality. In 1997 and 2000, it registered the highest average family income (at 1994 prices) in Cavite at P146,506 and P225,218 respectively. In 2000, its average family income is 25% higher than the provincial average family income. In a span of ten years, Bacoor has developed into a site of commerce. SM Bacoor and RFC Mall serve as the shopping haven of Bacoor residents.

To date, Bacoor has branches of 11 different commercial banks all over its flourishing municipality.

Biñan, Laguna
A budding site for businesses, several investment locations can be found in Biñan. The Laguna International Industrial Park, Inc. and Samsung Co., Ltd., for instance, had put up the Laguna International Industrial Park, an investment location for 43 establishments engaged in light to medium industries. Laguna Technopark Inc., a developer of world-class industrial parks in the Philippines, established Laguna Technoparks I, II and III which, at present, house 49 companies – the likes of NEC Computer Storage Philippines and Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. Fil-Estate Ecocentrum Corporation develops and operates Southwoods Ecocentrum Tourism Estate which is intended for tourism-related activities and is classified as a specialized industrial zone.

Dasmariñas, Cavite
With an income classification of 1st class, it is not surprising that Dasmariñas belongs to our list of next ten cities. This urbanized municipality is home to 379,520 inhabitants. In 2000, it registered an average family income (at 1994 prices) of P191,347 – higher than the provincial average. Leading corporate names Jollibee, Petron, Mercury Drug, DHL and LBC operate their respective branches in this municipality. Globe facilitates cellular phone services through its cell site while PLDT, Digitel and GMCR provide landline telephone services. Internet service providers DSL, Moscom and Sky supply internet services.

Three hospitals and three malls exist in Dasmariñas, (Waltermart, Highway Plaza and CM Plaza), plus a Robinson’s mall that is yet to open. Eight different commercial banks have their branches in this municipality. Like Sta. Rosa, Dasmariñas serves as a location of industrial establishments such as First Cityland Heavy Industrial Center, Dasmariñas Bagong Bayan-NHA Industrial Estate, First Cavite Industrial Estate, Dasmariñas Technopark and Cambridge Intelligent Park.

Imus, Cavite
For the past 10 years, the municipality of Imus has shown a steady rise in its income, making it earn an income classification of 1st class in 1986. Its 9,701 hectare-land area serves as home to a population of 195,482. In 1993, Imus had 1,369 commercial establishments, 200 manufacturing establishments and 41 financial institutions. Ten years hence, it has 6,636 licensed business establishments that include 4,376 commercial establishments, 300 manufacturing establishments and 190 financial institutions.

With a comfortable 18-km distance from Metro Manila, Imus serves as a favorable site for industrial establishments such as Imus Informal Industrial Estate and Anabu Hills Industrial Estate. Corporations that are 100% Filipino-owned such as Annie’s Candy Manufacturing, Inc., CKL Industries and Liwayway Mktg. Corp. Factories of partly Filipino-owned corporations such as Champan Garment Corp., Hayag Motorworks & Machine Shop and San Miguel-Yamamura Asia Corp. and foreign-owned corporations such as EDS MFG, Inc., which produces automotive wiring harness and Frontline Garments Corp., can be found in Imus.

Meycauayan, Bulacan
Nineteen kilometers north of Metro Manila is the municipality of Meycauayan. The 163,037-strong population of Meycauayan enjoys services of commercial establishments such as Jollibee, Petron and Mercury Drug outlets. BPI operates five branches while Metrobank has one. Key courier service companies have branches in the municipality. Globe operates its cell site while Digitel, Radio City and Smartcom offer landline telephone services. Leading cable TV companies provide their services while Sky provides internet services.

Apart from these commercial establishments, industrial establishments such as Meycauayan Industrial Subdivision and Muralla Industrial Park can be found in Meycauayan.

Rosario, Cavite
Rosario is a 2nd class, urban municipality. Its 73,655 population has access to services of Jollibee, Petron, Mercury Drug Store, and courier service providers DHL and LBC. Globe is operating two cell sites while Sky provides cable TV services. PLDT, Digitel and GMCR, on the other hand, provide landline telephone services. Banks with ATM services such as BPI, Metrobank and Landbank are also within easy reach, and seven other commercial banks.

Rosario serves as home to industrial establishments. The Philippine Economic Zone Authority, developed and operates the Cavite Economic Zone, an industrial zone that houses 256 companies mostly engaged in light industries. FilOil Development and Management Corporation established FilOil Special Economic Zones I & II for light and medium non-polluting industries.

Taytay, Rizal
Taytay, Rizal is inhabited by 198,183 residents. At present, leading fastfood chain Jollibee operates two stores while Petron runs four gas stations and Mercury Drug maintains two outlets in this municipality. BPI has four branches with ATM while Metrobank has one. Courier service companies LBC and Aboitiz have one branch each. Globe has a cell site established, while PLDT, Digitel and PT&T provide landline telephone services. Moscom provides internet services.

Like Cainta, the municipality of Taytay has served as a site for numerous residential subdivisions: Sta. Lucia Realty & Development, Inc., which has three subdivisions in Taytay (East Acropolis, East Gate and Monte Verde Royale), and Amber Real Estate.

Up and coming
While Metro Manila continues to be the epicenter of economic activity, there is no point in denying that these municipalities are definitely marching to the drumbeat of industrialization. With their growing population, income, natural resources, industries and proximity to Metro Manila, these municipalities are fast becoming favorable alternatives to “good ole” Metro Manila. This is surely good news to residents and businesses alike: local residents can easily avail of products and services that can improve their everyday lives while businesses can expand operations beyond their market in Metro Manila. And with the way it’s going, after ten more years, we will surely find our municipalities with the same dynamic, advanced and developed living standards that cities have always been known for.