TABUK CITY, KALINGA – Among 81 participating provinces, Kalinga is ranked top 19 Most Competitive Province in the country during the 6th Competitiveness Summit at the Philippine International Convention Center on August 16.
It is the only province in the Cordillera to get into the top 20 Most Competitive Provinces of the Cities and Municipality Competitiveness Index (CMCI), a significant improvement from last year which saw the province trailing behind Benguet at 37th place.
Meanwhile, the municipality of Rizal at top 5 is the only local government unit in Kalinga to be inlcuded in the Most Improved LGU under the 3rd to 6th Class category.
Regionwide, Kalinga and Rizal take the number one spot as Most Competitive Province and Most Improved LGU (3rd to 6th class category), respectively.
The CMCI is an annual survey ranking by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) that assesses the competitiveness of local government units in four pillars, namely, Economic Dynamism which refers to activities that create stable expansion of business and industries and higher employment; Government Efficiency which is characterized by the quality and reliability of government services and government support for effective and sustainable productive expansion; Infrastructure, which are physical building blocks that connect, expand, sustain a locality and its surroundings to enable the provision of goods and services; and lastly, Resiliency, which is defined as the capacity of a locality to facilitate businesses and industries to create jobs, raise productivity, and increase the incomes of citizens over time despite the shocks and stresses it encounters.
Provincial Planning and Development Officer Flordeliza Moldero said that the rise of Kalinga to the top 20 is an important economic advantage in that it makes the province more attractive to businesses and investors.
“Investors consult the index to see which localities are the most business friendly,” Moldero explained. “They would feel secure to invest in Kalinga because the LGU has put in place business-friendly policies and services.”
“Next year, [the NCC] will be creating a separate index for provincial local government units. This is another thing that we have to prepare for,” she added.
Governor Jocel Baac, during the flag-raising ceremony on Monday, told employees that the achievement is the result of the convergence and collective effort of all the offices under the provincial government. “This is an encouragement, and it’s good enough that these agencies are recognizing our efforts,” he said.
he local chief executive said that the achievement is an indication of his administration’s sound policies and effective implementations.
He acknowledged employees for their support.
“Thank you to all of you for extending your support to me, to the Vice Governor, and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan members,” he said.
By Iryll Sicnao
