■ 9 TOWNS IN CEBU NOW MORE COMPETITIVE, BUT HOW DOES PROVINCE PLAN TO RISE FROM 45TH PLACE?

Nine towns in Cebu did better in the National Competitiveness Council’s (NCC) annual list of the most productive and competitive local governments. Cebu Province, however, ended up in the 45th spot, from 31st last year. Our neighboring provinces Bohol and Siquijor placed 23rd and 29th, respectively, in the list that measured economic dynamism, infrastructure, government efficiency, and resiliency. But some towns in Cebu did rise in the NCC list. Dumanjug placed third among third- to sixth-class towns, in terms of economic dynamism. As to infrastructure among towns in the same category, Moalboal, Cordova and Sibonga ranked 12th, 13th and 19th, respectively. Still on infrastructure, Consolacion ranked 10th for first- to second-class towns.

Cebu Province dropped to the 45th spot in this year's list of Most Competitive Cities, Municipalities and Provinces by the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).

Last year, Cebu was in 31st place.

The criteria for this year's NCC competitiveness list are economic dynamism, infrastructure, government efficiency and resiliency.

The top 10 competitive provinces in the country are Rizal, South Cotabato, Cavite, North Cotabato, Laguna, Sarangani, Davao del Norte, Batangas, Bukidnon and Camiguin. Cebu's overall score was 32.7. Bohol and Siquijor were ranked 23rd and 29th, respectively.

According to NCC, the provincial rankings are based on the population and income weighted average of the overall scores of cities and municipalities under a province.

Roy Soledad, Cebu Investments and Promotions Office, attributed the Cebu's ranking drop to the ever-changing criteria and the fact that the cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu were excluded in the overall computation.

Last year, the criteria consisted only of economic dynamism, infrastructure and government efficiency.

In 2015, when Cebu was the third most competitive province in the country, the two cities were included in the NCC's computation.

But despite Cebu's plunge in rankings, towns under the Province fared better in this year's NCC rankings.

In terms of economic dyna- mism for third- to sixth-class municipalities, the southwestern town of Dumanjug placed third.

In terms of infrastructure for third- to sixth-class towns, Moalboal, Cordova and Sibonga ranked 12th, 13th and 19th, respectively.

In the same criteria, Consolacion ranked 10th for first- to second-class towns.

In terms of resilience for third- to sixth-class municipalities, San Remigio, Samboan and Compostela ranked fifth, sixth and eighth, respectively. Balamban ranked 18th for first- to second-class municipalities.

To improve their rankings next year, Soledad said the Provincial Government has organized the Provincial Competitiveness Challenge to challenge component cities and towns to level up. /