BAGUIO CITY – The local government has been adjudged most engaged Local Government Unit (LGU) during the 2nd Regional Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) awarding ceremonies held at the Hotel Elizabeth here.
The Most Engaged LGU award is part of the Special Awards given to participating LGU’s in the CMCI.
Baguio City was also ranked 14 out of 34 in the Highly Urbanized Cities category with a score of 40.53 and ranked 1 out of 2 cities in the Cordillera.
It ranked 21 in Economic Dynamism, 6 in Government Efficiency and 18 in Infrastructure.
The top ten cities in this category are Manila, Makati, Cebu, Quezon City, Davao, Cagayan De Oro, Paranaque, Valenzuela, Caloocan and Ilo-ilo.
The ranking is based on the cities and municipalities competitiveness score based on three pillars Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency and Infrastructure.
Scores are determined by values of actual data as well as completeness of data submitted to the National Competitiveness Council.
Last year, Baguio City was ranked 15 overall in the Highly Urbanized Cities category with a score of 40.89.
It ranked 21 in Economic Dynamism, 9 in Government Efficiency and 19 in Infrastructure.
For economic Dynamism, the indicators are size and growth of local economy as measured through business registrations, capital, revenue and permits, capacity to generate employment, cost of living, cost of doing business, financial deepening, productivity and presence of business and professional organizations.
For Government Efficiency, the indicators are transparency score in Local Governance Performance Management System (LGPMS), economic governance score in LGPMS, ratio of LGU-collected tax to LGU revenues, LGU competition-related awards, business registration efficiency, investment promotion, compliance to national directives for LGU’s, security, health and Education.
For Infrastructure, the indicators delve on existing road networks, distance from city center to existing major ports, DOT-accredited acommodations, health infrastructure, education infrastructure, availability of basic utilities, annual investments in infrastructure, connection to ICT, number of ATMs and number of public transportation vehicles.
The 2nd Regional Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness ceremony was attended to by the different key officials from the provinces of Abra, Apayao, Benguet, Kalinga, Mt. Province, Ifugao and the cities of Tabuk and Baguio.
The Regional Competitiveness Committee (RCC) is chaired by DTI-CAR Regional Director Myrna Pablo and Vice-chaired by Mayor Mauricio Domogan with members from the government sector, from the private sector or representatives from the local business clubs or chamber of commerce and from the academe.
Currently, there are 17 Regional Competitiveness Committees across the country working closely with the National Competitiveness Council to execute activities aimed at promoting reforms and growth at the regional level to make the country globally competitive./Paul Rillorta
