N. Cotabato among top 10 most competitive provinces nationwide

COTABATO CITY – North Cotabato, together with two other provinces in the SOCCSKSARGEN region, were adjudged as among the top 10 most competitive provinces in the country this year.

The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) named the provinces of North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, and South Cotabato, landing in the 6th, 7th, and 8th spot respectively, as top performers in the provincial level during the awarding ceremony held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Manila last week.

The competitiveness of a province was based on economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, and resiliency. The top 10 provinces were 1. Rizal 2. Laguna 3. Davao del Norte, 4. Cavite 5. Sarangani 6. North Cotabato 7. Sultan Kudarat 8. South Cotabato 9. Batangas, and 10. Bataan.

An annual undertaking of the NNC, the competitiveness ranking among local government units was rated with the participation of various government agencies, such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and private organizations - both local and international.

Sultan Kudarat Governor Pax Mangudadatu lauded all provincial government employees for their efficiency in serving its constituents.

“The recognition serves as added inspiration for civil servants to do more and perform better,” Mangudadatu said.

North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza said the province had adhered to the NCC’s objective to encourage LGUs to regularly track data and eventually benchmark performance to make sure the competitiveness of municipalities, cities, and provinces.

The rising number of businesses and other joint ventures that opened up in the province are among the indicators about the presence of economic dynamism in the province, she said.

Mendoza said the provincial government had maintained its transparency and efficiency in implementing projects and programs like the construction of roads, health centers, bridges, water systems, school buildings, covered courts, and many others - which uplift the living condition of Cotabateños.

Jimmy Sta. Cruz of the North Cotabato Information Office said the province will again vie for the same competition with the hope of landing at the top spot next year. (PNA)