Photo shows the representatives of the Regional Competitive Committee of Region 2 headed by DTI Region 2 Director Ruben Diciano (third from right).  He is flanked by (from right) Dean Cristina Salvosa, Nueva Vizcaya State University; Regional Governor Cloyd Velasco of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce; RD Diciano; Ms. Juby Bacuyag from the Philippine Statistics Authority and Mr. Charles Irwin Tagarino, RCC Secretariat.

Representatives from the Regional Competitiveness Committee (RCC) Region 2, headed by DTI’s OIC RD Ruben B. Diciano, joined 16 other RCCS at the 1^st RCCs National Meeting last 30 January 2019 at City Garden Grand Hotel, Makati City.

Discussions during the meeting were focused on the conduct of the 2019 Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) Survey and its indicators, the proposed Department Order formally establishing the RCCs, the approval of the proposed 2019 RCC Work Plan, and review of the 2019 CMCI Work Plan.

Undersecretary Rowel S. Barba of the DTI Competitiveness and Ease of Doing Business Group (CEODBG), expressed his appreciation to the RCCs across the Philippines for their presence which signified their full support to the programs of the RCC especially the upcoming CMCI Survey which will be implemented starting this February.

Among the key agreements reached during the meeting are: 1) the preparation of draft a Executive Order or Joint Memorandum Circular institutionalizing the RCCs; 2) the development of CMCI operations manual; 3) heightened participation of the academe in the analysis and interpretation of the CMCI Survey results; and 4) revision of some CMCI indicators.

RCC Region 2 was represented by RCC Focal Persons from the Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Statistics Authority, Nueva Vizcaya State University, and Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry–Region 2.♦

Date of release: 14 February 2019