Gov. Arthur Yap credits all Boholanos for their contribution to the competitive ranking of Bohol following the release of the data of the Cities and Municipalities Competitive Index (CMCI) by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
The DTI released early this month, the 2020 CMCI rankings where Bohol is cited as the most competitive province in Central Visayas and the 20th most competitive province in the country out of 81 nationwide, and even besting regional rival Cebu province.
The governor said the lofty competitive ranking of Bohol in the 2020 CMCI is the testament to the efficient management of the province and the cooperation of the Boholano people
Bohol is up five notches in 2020 compared to its ranking in 2019. The province was the 25th most competitive province based on the CMCI data for 2019.
As this developed, the governor thanked the Department of Traide and Industry (DTI), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) among, others, for recognizing Bohol’s efforts to improve Its competitive ranking based on the 2020 CMCI data.
The governor quipped that the DTI cited Bohol as among the top 20 most competitive provinces in the country because of the strong provincial leadership and sound management it has in its provincial affairs.
The governor particularly thanked the business sector for the latter’s effort to survive despite the challenges posed by the Coronavirus disease (Covid) pandemic.
THE RANKING
In the 2020 CMCI rankings recently released by the DTI, Bohol garnered a rating of 39.2262 and the distinction of the most competitive province in Central Visayas region.
In comparison, Siquijor province is the second most competitive province in region 7 with a score of 38.9348 and ranked 24th most competitive province in the Philippines.
Moreover, Cebu province is the third most competitive province in region 7 with a score of 38.6288 and ranks as the 26th most competitive province in the country, while Negros Oriental is the fourth most competitive province in Central Visayas with a score of 37.4512 and ranked 43rd most competitive province in the Philippines.
The top 10 most competitive provinces are Rizal, Davao del Norte, Camiguin, Laguna, Cavite, Pampanga, -Albay, Bulacan, Batangas and Benguet, according to the DTI.
Developed by the National Competitiveness Council through the Regional Competitiveness Committees (RCCs) with the assistance of the USAID, the annual CMCI are based on the sum of scores in four pillars or indicators which are: economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, and resilience.
The global framework on competitiveness is anchored on improving productivity which allows firms, provinces, cities, municipalities and countries to improve their standards of living and thereby prosperity to its citizens, according to the information from the DTI.
According to the Capitol, the DTI cited Bohol’s economic dynamism as one of the key factors that led to the improvement of the province’s ranking in 2020 compared to 2019.
SOLVING THE PANDEMIC’S IMPACT
The Provincial Information and Media Relations (PRIMER) office in a statement said the agencies behind CMCi took notice of the creation of innovative programs which are aimed in strengthening the province’s economy despite the challenges of Covid.
Last year, the Bohol provincial government came up with the “Bohol: We Survive As One” economic plan which was geared towards cushioning the impact of the pandemic especially on the economy, and livelihood.
Under the Yap administration, the provincial government went out of its way to look for solutions to the problems of the worst-hit sectors of the local economy such as the tourism industry, according to Capitol sources.
It can be remembered that Bohol is one of the first provinces in the country to re-open its tourism industry after the staging of the Philippine Travel Exchange (Phitex) back in September, 2020.
Moreover, the provincial government provided the needed aid to the Boholanos in terms of providing rice supply to each family in the province.