Collaboration, competition

“WHAT’S My friends and colleagues from the local government administration sector flooded my landlines and cellphones with calls and text messages. Two reasons: first, they wanted to congratulate the City of Antipolo and the Province of Rizal. The city and the province recently topped the list of Most Competitive local government units in the component city and province categories. Second, they wanted to find out how our city managed to pull off the feat.

The list was recently released by the country’s National Competitiveness Council. The ranking is based on the overall scores of the various local government units in four categories: economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, and resiliency.

The four represent what the council believes are the essential elements of competitiveness – of a local government unit’s ability to compete for investments and for the attention and interest of investors.

The province of Rizal has achieved a back-to-back win. It has topped the list for two consecutive years now. Antipolo City, meanwhile, managed to move up from the number 6 spot last year to the top of the list this year.

“So, what’s the secret?” I’ve been asked that question several times since media carried the news of the accomplishment.

“Is it the cooperation of the various sectors?” my colleagues insist that I share the answer with them.

My answer: “It’s not just cooperation; it’s collaboration.”

What’s the difference between cooperation and collaboration, they insist that I explain my answer further. the big secret?” I’ve obliged some and here’s how explained it.

There are four levels of non-competitive relationships in a community, I began.

First is “coexistence.” Second, “coordination.” Third, “cooperation.” The fourth and the highest is “collaboration.”

When the various components of a locality agree to simply “coexist,” this means they subtly agree to recognize that each other exists, and not to get in each other’s way.

When they agree to “coordinate,” this means they tell each other exactly where they are and to inform each other about their respective directions. This way, they avoid colliding or posing blocks in each other’s path. In the process, they help each other to get into their respective destinations easier.

When they agree to cooperate, this means they agree to “coordinate” and – in addition – to provide help to each other as they go to their respective destinations. This way, by cooperating, they help each other to go their separate respective ways not just easier, but also faster.

Collaboration is a different mode altogether. This calls for more than just getting out of each other’s way. It requires that everyone to go the same way towards the same destination.

Collaboration calls for more than just making the separate journeys easier and faster for each other. It requires the co-laborers to go out of their way to make the shared journey easier, faster, and more meaningful.

To reach the top of the list, Antipolo went the way of collaboration. The city invited the entire community, its partners, and stakeholders to share the journey and go out of their way to make it easier, faster, and more meaningful.

To achieve economic dynamism, we asked for the collaboration of our entrepreneur sector, as well as that of the country’s top business conglomerates who have made Antipolo as home to their national and global enterprises.

To achieve governance efficiency, we asked for the collaboration of our public service work force, and the national agencies with frontline offices in the city.

To build topnotch infrastructure system, we co-labored with the national government’s infrastructure agencies, and the private utility firms who provide the power and water requirements of the residents and business establishments.

To create a resilient city, we partnered with various government agencies (both national and local), private sector companies, and non-government organizations and volunteer groups who share their knowledge, expertise, and other resources for disaster preparedness and response, especially among the most vulnerable members of the city.

On the local government’s part, it created an atmosphere conducive to the growth of the collaboration. To do this, it tapped the collaboration of security and safety agencies, the public health sector, the academe, and even the religious sector.

The credit for this feat goes to all those who co-labored, and who are part of the shared journey.

Now that the nation has recognized Antipolo City as the Most Competitive Component City in the land, we reiterate our invitation to the Senate of the Philippines to make this place the site of its permanent home.