(FILE PHOTO)

 

Metro Manila, Philippines — Quezon City emerged as the wealthiest local government unit in the country in 2022, according to data from the Commission on Audit (COA).

Based on COA’s 2022 Annual Financial Report (AFR) for LGUs, Quezon City retained the top spot among the richest cities for the third straight year, even though its reported assets dropped by around ₱8 billion to ₱443.4 billion last year from ₱451 billion in 2021.

Makati City was second richest with total assets amounting to P239.4 billion, followed by the City of Manila in the third spot with ₱77.5 billion.

Meanwhile, Mandaue City in Cebu province overtook Cebu City by almost ₱4 billion. In 2021, Cebu City, the capital of the province, was richer than Mandaue by around ₱300 million.

Rounding up the top 20 are the following LGUs:

Pasig City – ₱52.1 billion

Taguig City – ₱40.8 billion

Mandaue City – ₱34.2 billion

Mandaluyong City – ₱32.5 billion

Cebu City – ₱30.5 billion

Davao City – ₱29.7 billion

Parañaque City – ₱27.3 billion

Caloocan City – ₱27.2 billion

Zamboanga City – ₱23.4 billion

Laoag City – ₱20.9 billion

Antipolo City – ₱18.7 billion

Calamba City – ₱18.5 billion

Pasay City – ₱17.9 billion

Puerto Princesa – ₱16.7 billion

Baguio City – ₱14.4 billion

Cagayan de Oro – ₱13.6 billion

Valenzuela City – ₱13.3 billion

Municipalities

The 258-page report shows Carmona, Cavite remained the wealthiest municiality last year with ₱6.5 billion in total assets.

Limay, Bataan is second with ₱5.7 billion and third is Silang, Cavite with ₱4.4 billion worth of assets.

The following rounds up the top 10 wealthiest municipalities:

Caluya, Antique – ₱3.8 billion

Cabugao, Ilocos Sur – ₱3.8 billion

Cainta, Rizal – ₱3.7 billion

Taytay, Rizal – ₱3.6 billion

Claver, Surigao del Norte – ₱3.5 billion

Binangonan, Rizal – ₱3.4 billion

Sta. Maria, Ilocos Sur – ₱3.2 billion

The COA formally submitted the 2022 AFR to the Office of the President and congressional leaders on Sept. 26.

The Philippines has 147 cities and 1,487 municipalities.