Makati, Davao most competitive cities in RP, study shows

BUTUAN CITY — Davao City ranks with Makati City, the country’s premier financial and business center, as first in "competitiveness" among the major urban centers, including Manila.

This was based on a survey under the Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking Project spearheaded by the Asian Institute of Management and the United States Agency for International Development.

Trade and industry officials here released copies of the survey results during a press briefing.The survey was conducted last year.

The competitiveness ranking is based on several criteria including infrastructure development, business environment, corporate practices, quality of life, and responsiveness of local governments to citizens’ and business’ concerns.

Davao and Makati cities are included in the "big cities" or "metro cities" category. Ranking second in this category was Las Piñas, followed by Marikina, Muntinlupa, Pasig, Cebu, Mandaluyong, Mandaue, Manila, Quezon City, Lapu-Lapu and Pasay. Davao is the country’s top exporter of tuna and other marine products, while Makati is home to some of the biggest commercial and financial establishments.

In the mid-sized cities category, Bacolod was on the top slot trailed by Batangas, Iloilo, San Fernando in Pampanga, Cagayan de Oro, Angeles, Iligan, Zamboanga, Calamba, Lipa, General Santos, Baguio, Cabanatuan, Butuan and Tarlac.

In the "small cities" category, or cities whose population is less than 200,000, San Fernando in La Union ranks first, followed by Legazpi in Bicol and Tagbilaran in Bohol.

Trade officials here, meanwhile, announced a glowing economic prospect for Agusan del Sur in view of its surplus in rice production as reported by the National Food Authority. Agusan is considered Caraga region’s "Agriculture and Timber Corridor."