Bacolod City: This highly urbanized city's strong and sustained partnership with the information technology and business process management (IT-BPM) community has been recognized by the IT Business Process Association of the Philippines (IBPAP) by honoring Bacolod as the 2025 Outstanding Local Government Unit (LGU) Partner in the Regional Category of the Solaia Awards. According to Philippines News Agency, Frances Mae Llamas, head of the city's Department of Local Economic Development and Investment Promotion (D-LEDIP), stated that the award is 'a milestone and testament' to the leadership of Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, which has shown continued support to ensure the growth of the IT-BPM industry. Llamas emphasized that the recognition reflects collective efforts to enhance the ease of doing business, foster investor confidence, and advance the IT-BPM ecosystem through innovation, effective governance, and strong public-private collaboration. Bacolod City was the lone awardee in the Regional Category, w hile Pasig City was named Outstanding LGU Partner in the National Capitol Region Category. Llamas accepted the award on behalf of the city government at a ceremony held at Shangri-La The Fort in Taguig City. She further noted that the recognition underscores Bacolod City's commitment to fostering innovation, enabling industry growth, and building a future-ready ecosystem for digital and economic transformation. It also demonstrates the city's dedication to digital innovation, inclusive growth, and private-public collaboration, which are key pillars in its journey toward becoming a super city. Currently, about 40,000 full-time employees work in 17 companies within the IT-BPM sector in Bacolod City. The Solaia Awards, now in its second year, honors the most progressive companies, groundbreaking innovations, and transformative partnerships shaping the future of the country's IT-BPM sector.