ZAMBOANGA CITY — Undersecretary (Usec.) Rafaelita M. Aldaba graced the 2020 Zamboanga Peninsula Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) Awarding Ceremony on Thursday, 22 April 2021 via Zoom. The ceremony was attended by ZamPen Regional Competitiveness Committee (RCC) Chair Regional Director (RD) Ceferino J. Rubio of DTI-Region 9, Co-Vice Chair RD Paisal O. Abutazil of Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 9, Co-Vice Chair Pedro Rufo “Cholo” N. Soliven of Zamboanga City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Foundation, Inc. (ZCCII), DTI-Region 9 provincial directors, regional directors and representatives of member agencies from Region 9: Department of Science and Technology (DOST), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Department of Information and Communications (DICT), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Agriculture (DA), ZamboEcozone, Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Philippine National Police (PNP); academe: Ateneo de Zamboanga University (ADZU), Western Mindanao State University (WMSU), University of Zamboanga (UZ); private sectors: Industrial Group of Zamboanga (IGZI), Southern Philippines (SOPHIL), Zamboanga ICT Council, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI), Mr. Jose Suan Regional Development Council (RDC) – Private Sector Representatives (PSRs); and the local chief executives, officials and employees of the various local government units (LGUs) in the region.
In its 8th year, the regional CMCI 2020 awarding was held to recognize LGUs with outstanding performance following the national ranking of the four pillars in the index: Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure and Resiliency for each of these categories- Component Cities, first – second class municipalities, third – fourth class municipalities, fifth – sixth class municipalities. In addition, these LGUs that have significantly scaled up their ranks were also awarded under the Most Improved LGUs and Overall Competitiveness both in the regional and national levels.
Usec. Rafaelita M. Aldaba, in her keynote message challenged the LGUs to further their rankings in each of the four (4) pillars for the years to come. Aldaba also informed the LGUs that “this 2021, innovation will form part of the CMCI as the 5th pillar. Innovation fulfills a key role in the formulation and implementation of the Inclusive Innovation Industrial Strategy (i3S) and in the establishment of an inclusive innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem in collaboration with other government agencies, industry and the academe under the Inclusive Filipinnovation and Entrepreneurship Roadmap”, Aldaba emphasized.
RCC Chair RD Ceferino J. Rubio in his welcome message also thanked the members of the RCC who have remained supportive to the programs, projects, activities of the committee for the improvement of the competitiveness of the LGUs in the region.
RCC Co-Vice Chair Pedro Rufo N. Soliven did his share in the presentation of the overview of the CMCI. The CMCI is an annual ranking of the Philippine cities and municipalities. It started in 2012 and was developed by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC) through the RCCs with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This initiative is in support of building national competitiveness through the strategic promotion of regional competitiveness.
The ceremony was highlighted through virtual awarding of the plaques of recognition to the 2020 top three (3) LGUs in terms of Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, Resiliency, Most Improved LGUs and Overall Competitiveness for the various categories- Component Cities, 1st – 2nd Class Municipalities, 3rd – 4th Class Municipalities and 5th – 6th Class Municipalities. Complete list of LGU awardees can be accessed at DTI-Region 9 Facebook page.
RCC Co-Vice Chair RD Paisal O. Abutazil also commended the LGUs for bringing positive and meaningful changes in their communities not only to advance the economy, but also to bring development to the lives of their constituents. “The regional competitiveness index has been inspiring LGUs to do more in providing avenues for local development.” he added. ♦
Date of Release: 02 July 2021