Top Ten Most Competetive Cities in the country by NCC

MAKATI, CAGAYAN DE ORO, NAGA, DAVAO AND MARIKINA CITY  are among the top 5 cities in the Top ten most competitive cities in the country, data compiled by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) showed.

Davao City Skyline as of  Sep. 2011 courtesy of Photophile in Panoramio

DAVAO CITY, Philippines
-- The second Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index showed cities in Metro Manila, as well as large metropolises like Cebu and Davao, faring better in the rankings when compared to last year, when the index was topped by cities and municipalities in the provinces.

This year’s index ranked 136 cities and 399 municipalities based on 28 indicators in the areas of economic dynamism, government efficiency, and infrastructure, with 100 as the highest possible score. The scores were analyzed by regional committees, culled from data provided by local government units.

Last year’s pilot index included 122 cities and 163 municipalities, which were assessed based on 30 indicators.

Makati City topped this year’s ranking of cities with an overall score of 53.24 points. Cagayan de Oro City, last year’s most competitive city, followed with a score of 49.36. Naga City placed third with 49.08.

The cities of Davao and Marikina placed fourth and fifth, respectively, scoring 47.72 and 45.47. Iloilo City came next with 45.00, followed by Cebu with 43.69, Manila with 43.15, Valenzuela with 43.02, and Paranaque with 42.70.

Last year, nine out of the top ten cities in the index were those in provinces. After first-placer Cagayan de Oro came the cities of Iloilo, San Fernando in Pampanga, Butuan, Bacolod, Koronadal, San Fernando in La Union, Olongapo, and Naga. Marikina City, last year’s tenth-placer, was the sole Metro Manila city in the top 10.

“One thing we noticed between last year and this year is that the completion rates, the coverage rates for both cities and municipalities have improved significantly from year to year,” NCC Co-Chairman Guillermo M. Luz said yesterday.

Meanwhile, for this year’s municipalities ranking, Daet, Camarines Norte named as the most competitive, with an overall score of 43.24.

Following Daet were General Trias, Cavite with 42.50; Kalibo, Aklan, 42.17; Carmona, Cavite, 41.79; and Nabunturan, Compostela Valley, 41.11. Municipalities placing sixth to tenth were Lubao, Pampanga, 40.10; Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, 38.88; Polomolok, South Cotabato, 38.84; Manolo Fortich, Bukidnon, 38.36; and Taytay, Rizal with 38.05, respectively.

Last year, the top 10 municipalities were, respectively: San Francisco in Agusan del Sur; Guagua, Pampanga; Carmona, Cavite; Daet, Camarines Norte; General Trias, Cavite; Guimba, Nueva Ecija; Mexico, Pampanga; Surallah, South Cotabato; Taytay, Rizal; and Prosperidad, Agusan del Sur.

Indicators for this index included business registrations, money in circulation, number of jobs created, inflation, transparency, share of taxes and savings to local government revenue, percentage of households with connections to utilities, number of cell sites and automated teller machines, as well as the number of hotel rooms and restaurant seats.

Socioeconomic Planning chief Arsenio M. Balisacan stressed the importance of the ranking initiative, as investors can pinpoint which localities have a high potential for growth.

“On the part of government, establishing a local competitiveness indicator system would help in channeling resources to areas where these are most needed,” Mr. Balisacan said.

“This will support our development goal of reducing multidimensional poverty and creating massive quality employment.”


source: BusinessWorldonline