Over the years, Cabuyao City has seen a rapid transformation, both in terms of its economy and its governance.
With a total population of 365,202 (as of the 2025 census) and an annual generated revenue of P2.979 billion in 2024 (according to official government data), there is no denying that the city’s economic and social landscape has been changed from a predominantly rural town to one of the fastest-growing commercial and industrial cities in Laguna province.
The rapid growth of Cabuyao City has been attributed by the administration of Mayor Dennis “Denha” Hain to a strategic partnership with the two major drivers of its economy.
These include both the large multinational companies that have poured billions of pesos’ worth of investments in its industrial estates and the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) that provide livelihood to Cabuyeño families.
It is these strategic partnerships, Hain has emphasized, that have enabled his administration to push through with his IHELP (Industry, Health, Education, Livelihood, and Protection) platform that was kickstarted when he was first elected mayor in 2022.
Large investors
Last August 10, as part of its celebrations of its 14th cityhood anniversary, the city government recognized in its “Taxpayers’ Night” at the Conrad Hotel Manila in Pasay City the vital contributions of the city’s top taxpayers in helping the city government fulfill its promise of a “Bagong Cabuyao” to its constituents.
“Ang nasabing event po ay ating pagkilala sa kanilang naging pagtulong sa atin,” Hain told OpinYon Laguna in an exclusive interview.
“Ang kanila pong mga taxes kasi na ibinabayad sa atin ay malinaw naman po nating ginagamit bilang ‘gasolina’ sa ating programa,” he added.
The change of pace of Cabuyao City from agricultural to industrial hub is clearly evidenced by the companies which made it to the Top Ten list of the city’s taxpayers.
Multinational companies and large-scale industries dominate the list of top business taxpayers provided by officials to OpinYon Laguna.
Number one on the list: Procter and Gamble Philippines, one of the most recognized industry players in home care, personal care, beauty/grooming and consumer health products.
This was followed by multinational pharmaceutical company Zuellig Pharma Corporation, while Ginebra San Miguel, Inc., the hard liquor arm of business conglomerate San Miguel Corporation, came in third.
Other companies in the list included Concepcion Carrier Airconditioning Company; Unilever Philippines; Asia Brewery, Inc.; Concepcion Carrier subsidiary Concepcion Durables, Inc.; Bermaz Auto Philippines, official distributor of Mazda vehicles; Asia Brewery subsidiary Interbev Philippines, Inc.; and multinational cement manufacturing company James Hardie Philippines, Inc., which also bagged the Bagong Cabuyao Business Excellence Award.
Meanwhile, the following "single-proprietor" enterprises were also honored during the event: F. T. Pontillo Builders and Engineering Services; Versy Steel Trading; R. L3W Construction Services; SME Minimart; Decada Frigo Appliances Trading; Loyzaga Convenience Store; Victowin Engineering Services and Trading; Triple J 19 Consumer Goods Trading; VServe Trading; and MJ Catalonia Trading and Construction.
Small enterprises, too
However, this does not mean that the Hain administration has failed to recognize or even acknowledge the small business enterprises that provide livelihood to ordinary Cabuyeños.
It was, in fact, a symbiotic relationship for city officials: every job created through attracting large-scale investments meant that these small enterprises could generate more income, which also meant added revenue for the city.
And part of the recent programs the city government under Hain has implemented aim to make it much easier for small and medium enterprises to set up shop in Cabuyao City.
“Mayroon na po tayong programa kung saan libre po ang business permit para sa mga first-time businesses dito sa lungsod, upang masigurado na maging legitimate ang kanilang negosyo at makakuha pa po ng oportunidad para mapalawak nila ito,” Hain told OpinYon Laguna.
The local government has also forged partnerships with national government agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for programs that will ease the burden on these small enterprises, such as the “Benteng Bigas Meron Na” program for their employees.
Expanded services
The rapid growth in its economy and population has brought an additional challenge to the city government of Cabuyao to deliver basic services such as healthcare and education under the IHELP platform.
“Di man po tayo ang pinakamayamang siyudad sa Laguna, matitiyak naman po natin na kung paramihan lang po ng programa ay hindi po nagpapahuli ang Cabuyao,” Hain emphasized.
These include expanding and reforming current programs such as the Iskolar ng Bagong Cabuyao program which offer merit-based grants to deserving Cabuyeño students.
“Ang main objective po natin ay hikayatin ang mga kabataang Cabuyeño na pagbutihin ang kanilang pag-aaral at mapanatili ang mataas na antas ng pagganap academically,” the city mayor added.
“Hindi po ito simpleng financial aid, kundi pamumuhunan ng lungsod sa mga kabataang Cabuyeño na may pinakamataas na potensyal na maging mga bihasang propesyunal at lider na makapag-aambag sa patuloy na pag-unlad ng Bagong Cabuyao.”
The slew of investments has also enabled the city government to expand the Cabuyao City Hospital’s capacity from 18 beds in 2021 to 100 beds in 2026, as well as increasing its hospital staff and modernizing its specialized equipment.
This year saw the opening of the Help All in Need (HAIN) Center inside the CCH, a facility that aims to provide additional medical assistance for Cabuyeños.
“To date, over 4,376 clients na po ang ating natulungan sa HAIN Center, na patuloy po nating pinalalakas sa pamamagitan ng pagdaragdag at pagsasaayos ng medical facilities at equipment.”
The LGU was also able to kickstart new programs for its youth, including the recent “Bagong Cabuyao Summer Camp” that was launched last May 25.
"Napagpasyahan natin na gawing institusyonal...[ang isang] multidisciplinary at multi-interest na summer camp na may layuning magbigay ng masayang experience at makatulong sa pagpapaunlad ng kasanayan ng mga kabataang Cabuyeño,” Hain added.
Transparency and Accountability
All these programs, the city executive also stressed, was made possible through accountability and transparency measures that are keeping in line with his motto: “Pera ng Bayan, Ibalik sa Mamamayan.”
It was this transparency and accountability – and the cooperation between the mayor, Sangguniang Panglungsod, and other government officials – that have made the city an ideal place not only for big-time investors but also for ordinary families to settle and call Cabuyao their home.
"Sa totoo lang po, ang governance po ay walang pinagkaiba sa pagpapalaki ng pamilya," was how Hain put it.
"Kapag naging maayos ang pagpapalaki ng pamilya ninyo, tiyak na magiging maayos ang buhay ninyo. Ganoon din ang paggo-gobyerno: bilang isang mayor, anak mo ang lahat ng iyong mga kasama. So ituring mo sila bilang iyong mga anak, kaibigan, kapatid, dahil kapag kasundo mo sila, malayo ang mararating ninyo."
(With reports by Christian Magdaraog and Jeremy Rago)
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