QUEZON City remains the country’s most competitive city after the recent 5th Regional Competitiveness Summit at the Philippine International Convention Center.
Mayor Herbert Bautista received the award given by the National Competitiveness Council, which Quezon City also won in 2016.
The National Competitiveness Council conducts an annual awarding to local government units in recognition of their roles and efforts in promoting competitiveness.
Quezon City also topped the infrastructure category, beating Manila and Davao City, and placed second in resilience, government efficiency and economic dynamism.
Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada said his city took home the top spot in government efficiency, was second in infrastructure, and third in resiliency.
“We are very proud and pleased that the City of Manila has been named again as one of the Philippines’ most competitive cities, and we’re number two,” Estrada said.
“The accolades belong not to me but to every Manileño, every taxpayer, and every city government employee and official who cooperated and worked hard to transform our formerly bankrupt city to an economically progressive city today,” he added.
Davao City was awarded the Third Most Competitive City in the highly urbanized category, and is the only highly urbanized city outside of Metro Manila to make the Top 3.
Davao City had consistently ranked fifth for two consecutive years in 2015 and 2016.
The recognition as a competitive city demonstrated Davao City’s business-friendly environment—how the city integrates innovation and technology in its policies and processes in serving investors, tourists, and the public, said Mayor Sara Duterte.
For 2017, Davao City claimed the top spot in the resiliency pillar. This is the first year that an LGUs resiliency was included in the index, which highlights the city’s ability to stand tall and strong amidst challenges and difficulties.
The city also showed an improved ranking in the pillars of economic dynamism and infrastructure, bagging the fourth and third spot, respectively. It ranked fifth in government efficiency.
Meanwhile, Pasay City ranked first in economic dynamism and was awarded one of the top four Highly Urbanized Cities.
Mayor Antonino Calixto received the award and thanked members of the NCC for recognizing Pasay as one of the fast-emerging business hubs in the country.
"This only shows that the steady rise of our city’s economy and development is brought about by a common vision of Pasay’s leadership. I am confident that this recognition will open more opportunities for our city and its current and potential investors,” Calixto said.
Pasay also ranked third in Most Improved Highly Urbanized City in Metro Manila and fourth in government efficiency, fourth in infrastructure, and seventh in resiliency among HUCs.
Calixto said Pasay City may soon be the premier business and investment hub in the country. With the list of projects and developments that the city is planning, he added, he is certain that this vision will become a reality in the coming years.
“We still have more room for improvement. We will maintain and improve our city in all other aspects so that Pasay City will become globally competitive,” said Calixto.
NCC’s Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index ranks cities, municipalities and provinces of the country according to their economic dynamism, government efficiency and infrastructure.
For 2017, it added a “resiliency” component in the scorecard to make the rankings at par with those of other countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The awarding ceremony, held last Wednesday at the Philippine International Convention Center Plenary Hall in Pasay City, was attended by delegates from local government units and national government agencies, and representatives from the private sector.