The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) are teaming up to get more local government units (LGUs) to join the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI). The CMCI is an annual ranking of cities and municipalities based on Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, and Resiliency. Through a Memorandum of Understanding signed last 16 January, the MAP will participate in the CMCI annual ranking of LGUs and will conduct regional, provincial, and local seminars and forums with the DTI. Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez (2nd from L:) said that achieving ease of doing business nationwide takes a whole-of-nation approach and thanked the MAP for lending their expertise to the cause. He also urged more LGUs to work on increasing their CMCI rankings to attract more trade and investments in their localities. In the photo are from (L to R:) DTI Undersecretary Rowel Barba, Sec. Lopez, MAP President Francisco Ed Lim, and MAP Governor Amando Tetangco, Jr.
We basically want a clear and focused messaging of the Philippines’ value proposition to investors—the country as an investment destination especially during this administration, given the meaningful reforms and solid macro fundamentals with respect to specific sectors. To achieve this, our 19 Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) are working on a Unified Country Branding, instead of each IPAs working independently and in silo.
If CITIRA is meant to harmonize the incentive regime from the Policy-side; we are also doing the same from the Promo-side. This is for the effectiveness and efficient use of government’s limited resources.
After winning the overall most competitive Highly-Urbanized City (HUC) for four consecutive years, Quezon City has been inducted in the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) Hall of Fame. CMCI is an annual gathering of competitive cities and municipalities, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) since 2013. During the 2019 CMCI awarding ceremonies last 24 October, Quezon City was also named the best HUC for government efficiency and infrastructure, and third-best HUC for economic dynamism. Competitiveness awards for different categories were also given to other cities and municipalities. DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez (4th from L) commended the consistent performance of Quezon City throughout the years and highlighted their role in increasing the competitiveness of the whole country by being the pilot city for DTI's ease of doing business reforms. Receiving the award was Mayor Joy Belmonte (5th from L), in the presence of Congressman Manuel Zubiri (3rd from L), DTI Undersecretary Blesila Lantayona (7th from L), and DTI NCR Regional Director Marcelina Alcantara (8th from L).
The Department of Trade and Industry recognizes the highly competitive cities, municipalities and provinces during the 7th edition of the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI), commending the local government units’ efforts to enhance the competitiveness at the local and regional levels.For the fourth year, Quezon City is the overall most competitive Highly Urbanized City (HUC), making it to the CMCI Hall of Fame. Manila ranks second followed by Davao City in 3rd place. Antipolo City tops the overall most competitive Component City (CC), with Calamba, Laguna and Santa Rosa, Laguna in 2nd and 3rd places, respectively.Cainta, Rizal reclaimed its top spot as overall most competitive 1st-2nd Class Municipality, while Taytay, Rizal slipped to second spot, followed by Baliwag, Bulacan in 3rd place. For the 3rd-6th class municipalities, Mambajao, Camiguin topped this category followed by San Remigio, Cebu (2nd) and Baler, Aurora (3rd). The three most competitive provinces are all coming from the Calabarzon region, with Rizal Province as 1st place for fourth consecutive time, Laguna as 2nd place and Cavite as 3rd place."I am glad to hear that more and more Local Government Units (LGUs) are seeing the importance of the CMCI project," said DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez.“The CMCI now has 1,518 cities and municipalities, from 122 cities and 163 municipalities in its pilot run in 2013. Beyond being an annual ranking event, it is a vital opportunity for policymakers and public officials to see where things are, compare it to past performance, and relate it to the experience of other localities. As such, the program serves as a driving force to do better, to be more innovative, and to utilize and manage resources more effectively," he added.Most economically dynamic LGUsThe Economic Dynamism Pillar of CMCI measures the economic activity and productivity of an LGU, which include the size and growth of the local economy (business registrations, capital, revenue, permits), capacity to generate jobs, cost of living, cost of business, etc.Pasay City landed in the top spot for the HUC category, as Davao City improved to 2nd place, while last year’s no. 1 Quezon City dropped to 3rd place. For Component Cities, Gen. Trias, Cavite moved to 1st place, followed by Calamba, Laguna (2nd) and Batangas City, Batangas (3rd). Plaridel, Bulacan emerged as no.1 in the 1st-2nd class municipalities, with Sta. Maria, Bulacan in no. 2, while last year’s top performer Cainta, Rizal fell to no.3. Mambajao, Camiguin led the 3rd-6th class municipalities together with Bacolor, Pampanga (2nd) and Alfonso Lista, Ifugao (3rd).Most efficient LGUsIn the Government Efficiency Pillar, competitiveness of LGUs is determined through the reliability and quality of government support for effective and sustainable expansion, and absence of corruption.In this pillar, Quezon City ranked best in the HUC category followed by City of Manila (2nd) and Davao City (3rd). For the Component Cities, Antipolo, Rizal is no. 1, while last year’s top LGU Tagum City eased to no.2, and Sta. Rosa, Laguna is no.3. Cainta, Rizal reclaimed its top rank in the 1st-2nd class municipalities, while Taytay, Rizal and Silang, Cavite landed in the 2nd and 3rd places, respectively. San Simon, Pampanga got the 1st place in the 3rd-6th class municipalities, followed by Taal, Batangas (2nd) and Mambajao, Camiguin (3rd).Infrastructure-sufficient LGUsThis third pillar measures the availability of necessary physical building blocks that connect and sustain a locality and its surroundings to enable provision of goods and services. Data involved includes existing road network, distance from major ports, availability of basic utilities, internet connection, etc.Consistent top performers in the HUC Category are Quezon City (1st), City of Manila (2nd) and Davao City (3rd). Legazpi City remained as top Component City followed by Antipolo, Rizal at 2nd place, while Naga City, Camarines Sur slipped to 3rd place. Baliwag, Bulacan improved to the top spot for the 1st-2nd class municipality, with Cainta, Rizal (2nd place) and Taytay, Rizal (3rd place). Gabaldon, Nueva Ecija entered for the first time as top placer in 3rd-6th municipalities, together with Ronda, Cebu (2nd) and Jimenez, Misamis Occidental (3rd).Most resilient LGUsThe fourth pillar measures the capability of an LGU to sustain competitiveness. Resiliency at the context of local level is defined as ability of the people, households, communities, countries, and systems to mitigate, adapt to and recover from shocks and stresses and manner that reduces chronic vulnerability and facilitates inclusive growth.Iloilo City secured the top spot for the HUC Category followed by Cagayan de Oro (2nd) and Davao City (3rd). Antipolo, Rizal led the Component City Category with Koronadal, South Cotabato (2nd) while Calapan, Oriental Mindoro slipped to 3rd place. Liloan, Cebu emerged as best in the 1st-2nd class municipalities, followed by Binangonan, Rizal (2nd) and San Mateo, Rizal (3rd). Santo Domingo, Ilocos Sur is 1st place in the 3rd-6th class municipalities, with Pagsanjan, Laguna (2nd ) and Magsaysay, Davao del Sur at (3rd ).Most improved LGUsDTI also recognized local government units that significantly improved their performance in the CMCI. For HUC Category, Valenzuela and Malabon shared the top spot, followed by Angeles, Pampanga (2nd) and Paranaque and Caloocan (3rd). For Component City, Meycauayan, Bulacan topped the list, while Tangub, Misamis Occidental and Toledo, Cebu tied in 2nd place. San Jose del Monte, Bulacan ranked 3rd. For 1st-2nd class municipalities, Plaridel, Bulacan is 1st place followed by Pandi, Bulacan (2nd) and Santa Rosa, Nueva Ecija (3rd). For 3rd-6th class municipalities, Poro, Cebu is the top placer, followed by Penaranda, Nueva Ecija (2nd) and Tabina, Zamboanga del Sur (3rd).
