Samar capital’s competitiveness ranking inches up

CATBALOGAN CITY, Samar, July 23 (PNA) -- The city government here significantly improved its competitiveness ranking among component cities in the country, based on the 2016 National Competitiveness Council report.

From 104th place last year, the city made a major leap to 46th rank this year as revealed in the 4th Regional Competitiveness Summit held last July 14 at the Philippine International Convention Center.

The city jumped to 17th place from 102nd a year ago in terms of government efficiency.

The city maintains its position as the center and most competitive local government unit (LGU) in Samar province.

In Eastern Visayas, Catbalogan is the second most competitive city next to Ormoc. The city ranked 73rd in economic dynamism and 66th in infrastructure.

Although the city is not included in the top 10 list of competitive cities in the country, the local government is still elated by their rank as this shown that they are the most competitive LGU in Samar Island.

“Our big jump from 104th to 57th spot out of hundreds of components cities in our nation, serves as a vindication for the hard work of our employees, the cooperation of various agencies in the city and the support of the people of Catbalogan. This is no less than what we expected,” Uy-Tan said.

The city mayor offers this good news to all their development partners who “assisted them in all their endeavors.”

“It is through their generous inputs that we were able to improve our programs and services,” the city mayor added.

She has called on their development partners to continue helping the city government in the provision of better services in the future.

“Although this recent victory has surely lifted our spirits, let it not be a cause for us to be complacent.

 Let this victory further remind us how much we can achieve if we will be united. Let us therefore work together for the attainment of the much higher goal – the top spot,” she said.

The competitiveness ranking of LGU that is joined by 1,300 LGU is based on three pillars namely economic dynamism, government efficiency and infrastructure awards.

Every year, LGUs’ performance are evaluated and benchmarked against local and international standards. (PNA)
PGL/SQM/ROEL T. AMAZONA