DAVAO CITY — The province of Davao del Norte has been adjudged as the Second Most Competitive Province in the Philippines during the recently held 8th Regional Competitiveness Summit. It is four ranks higher than its having been in the sixth spot in 2019.
Davao del Norte garnered the said award after the province and its constituent local government units (LGUs) were able to increase their income that served as basis for the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index 2020. The increase in the investments and the strengthened economic initiatives improved the status of the province.
The provincial government under the leadership of Gov. Edwin Jubahib was elated as the national government recognized its efforts coupled with the support of its constituent LGUs to execute reforms through unified initiatives toward sustainable development.
The following won as Most Competitive Provinces in the entire country: 1st – Rizal (Region IV-A); 2nd – Davao del Norte (Region XI); 3rd – Camiguin (Region X); 4th – Laguna (Region IV-A); 5th – Cavite (Region IV-A); 6th – Pampanga (Region III); 7th – Albay (Region V); 8th – Bulacan (Region III); 9th – Batangas (Region IV-A); 10th – Benguet (CAR); 11th – South Cotabato (Region XII); 12th – North Cotabato (Region XII); 13th – La Union (Region I); 14th – Quirino (Region II); 15th – Bataan (Region III); 16th – Camarines Sur (Region V); 17th – Aklan (Region VI); 18th – Surigao del Norte (Region XIII); 19th – Tarlac (Region III), and 20th – Bohol (Region VII)
Meanwhile, Tagum City ranked 3rd in the overall Most Competitive Component City in the Philippines which is four ranks higher than last year’s performance despite the ongoing health crisis.
There are four pillars used for the competitiveness indicator system. Here are the ranks this year: Resiliency – 1st; Government Efficiency – 1st; Infrastructure – 4th, and Economic Dynamism – 13th.
The award was conferred last December 16, 2020, by the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) together with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) through a virtual awarding seen via Facebook Livestream of the former. Newsline.ph