By Kris M. Crismundo
MANILA, July 16 (PNA) — The Philippines is on track to be on the top three in competitiveness rankings globally, said National Competitiveness Council (NCC) Co-Chair Guillermo M. Luz.
Luz, at the sidelines of the 3rd Regional Competitiveness Summit held Thursday in Pasay City, said that it is attainable for the Philippines to be on the top 30 percent in World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Competitiveness Report in 2016.
“We’re on track. We have two more rating period, the 2015 and 2016. Currently, we are (rank) 52. We need to be in above (rank) 45,” Luz said. “It’s attainable.”
Aside from WEF’s Global Competitiveness Report, the Philippines also aims to move up to world’s top three in other rankings such as Ease of Doing Business, Economic Freedom Index, Global Enabling Trade Report, among others.
For Global Competitiveness Report alone, the country has been in the bottom three before the Aquino administration stepped in five years ago, according to Luz.
“In 2010, 2009, 2008 and earlier years, we are flat. No movement at all. Now, we are moving by 30 to 50 spots,” he said.
In Global Competitiveness Report, the Philippines’ ranking went up by 33 notches from 85th place in 2010 to 52nd place in 2014.
In order to back the country’s target, Luz said the competitiveness of local government units (LGU) should be enhanced.
“It would take a huge team effort to further go up,” he said. “The reason we invest a lot in cities is when it becomes competitive the whole country will be competitive.”
In the 3rd Regional Competitiveness Summit, NCC announced the most competitive cities and municipalities in the country in its Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) 2015.
During the summit, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Florencio B. Abad said the Aquino administration is pushing LGUs to be more competitive by initiating LGU-oriented reforms.
“President Aquino has already initiated LGU-oriented reforms. Some of these are designed to incentivize good governance practices in the ground such as the Performance Challenge Fund and the Seal of Good Housekeeping,” said Abad.
“LGUs, to be more competitive, should follow good governance. It’s the bedrock of competitive public service,” he added. (PNA)