TAGUM and Cotabato are the only cities from Mindanao that made it to the top 10 most competitive component cities nationwide.
The cities’ competency is ranked based on the four pillars which are economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, and resiliency.
According to the data of the National Competitiveness Council of the Philippines (NCCP), Tagum City, Davao del Norte is the third most competitive component city following Antipolo City, Rizal and Naga City, Camarines Sur.
This is a huge jump-off from its 2016 status being only the 9th most competitive component city nationwide.
Tagum City ranked second among the other cities in terms of its infrastructure development, with a score of 12.93. It came next to Antipolo, Rizal with a total score of 14.84. Tagum City was also ranked 4th in terms of resiliency with a score of 17.78, coming after Bayawan, Negros Oriental, Calapan, Oriental Mindoro, and General Trias, Cavite. In terms of economic dynamism, Tagum City came in on 17th with a total score of 7.26 while rank 24 in the government efficiency aspect with a score of 12.35.
As for Cotabato City, it was declared the 9th most competitive component city for this year from its 5th ranking in 2016.
For this year, Cotabato City ranked second among all the other component cities in terms of government efficiency with a score of 14.6 and ranked 14th in terms of infrastructure at 9.64.
The city also ranked 25th for economic dynamism and resiliency categories scoring 6.43 and 16.74 respectively.
The annual competitive ranking of the cities and municipalities is being done by NCCP in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAid).
Meanwhile, municipalities in Mindanao were also able to clinch in the top 10 spots in their respective categories.
Polomolok, South Cotabato and Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, placed sixth and ninth overall in the municipality category.
For the 1st and 2nd class municipality category, Isulan placed fifth while Polomolok placed seventh.
For the 3rd to 6th class municipality category, Mambajao, Camiguin (2nd), Nasipit, Agusan del Norte (6th), Calamba, Misamic Occidental (9th), and Jimenez, Misamis Occidental (10th) made it to the top 10.
For the provincial rankings, Mindanao provinces that made it to the top 10 include South Cotabato (2nd), North Cotabato (4th), Sarangani (6th), Davao del Norte (7th), Bukidnon (9th), and Camiguin (10th).