TWENTY-five Philippine cities cited by the
Asian Institute of Manage-ment's Policy Center for their
competitiveness are emerging as mini-Singapores.
The AIM Policy Center's 2007 Philippine
Cities Competitiveness Ranking Program (PCCRP) evaluated 90
cities and rated them for the dynamism of their local economies,
cost of doing business, infrastructure, human resources and
training, responsiveness to business needs and quality of life.
The top cities in the metro category, in
alphabetical order, are Davao, Lapu-Lapu, Makati, Manila,
Marikina and Quezon City; the top mid-sized cities are
(alphabetically) Cabanatuan, General Santos, Lucena, Olongapo,
San Pablo, Tagum and Tarlac and; the small ones (alphabetically)
are Bayawan, Calapan, Calbayog, Dagupan, Dipolog, Laoag, San
Fernando in La Union; Malaybalay, Naga, Surigao, Tagbilaran and
Tuguegarao.
Dr. Federico Macaranas, executive director of
the AIM Policy Center, said the survey serves as a tool for
investors for their ventures here and highlights the best
practices of the local governments which, if emulated by others,
could turn more Philippine cities into "mini-Singapores."
Singapore has consistently ranked among the
top competitive countries.
However, Macaranas noted that despite the 7.3
percent economic growth achieved in 2007, the standard of living
in some local governments have not improved much, reflecting the
effects of inflation brought about by higher oil and rice
prices, among others.
This is the fifth edition of the PCCRP, a biennial study
which ranks cities on the basis of economic performance and
responsiveness to business enterprises. PCCRP results, Macaranas
said, have served as benchmarks for local chief executives, city
planners and economic and development managers in improving
their development strides in their cities. - Irma Isip
