Iloilo is among the wealthiest provinces in the country, according to the latest financial report released by the Commission on Audit (COA).

Based on the state auditing agency’s 2021 Annual Financial Report for Local Government, Iloilo ranked eighth with P17.907 worth of assets.

The annual report is mandated by the Constitution and the Government Auditing Code of the Philippines.

Negros Occidental, which had a total of P18.025 billion in assets, clinched the sixth spot.

Cebu remained the country’s richest province with assets of up to P215.27 billion, followed by Rizal (P30.637 billion), Batangas (P29.705 billion), Davao de Oro (P23.211 billion), and Bukidnon (P19.455 billion).

Ilocos Sur occupied the seventh spot with total assets amounting to P17.907 billion.

The ninth and tenth places were secured by Isabela (P16.419 billion) and Palawan (P16.108 billion), respectively.

Meanwhile, Caluya in Antique province was the seventh wealthiest town in the country with P3.11 billion worth of assets. It was the only town in the region that made it to COA’s list.

The report covers financial statements of 1,676 or 97.7 percent of the 1,715 local government units, consisting of 81 provinces and 1,488 towns.IMT