CITY Mayor Oscar Moreno said he dedicates Cagayan de Oro's big win at the 6th Regional Competitive Summit to the Kagay-anons who perished during the onslaught of Typhoon Sendong, the worst tragedy to date that hit the city in 2011.
Moreno said the Most Resilient Highly Urbanized City recognition is an award not only for the City Government but to all the people who suffered immeasurable pain and loss because of typhoon Sendong.
"No more Sendong," Moreno said.
The mayor said he shares the honor with the City Council, and to the people of the City Government who work tirelessly to deliver public service efficiently.
"I share the honor (that these awards have given) with the Kaabag City Council, led by Vice Mayor Kikang Uy, the men and women of the CDO bureaucracy who have supported us in our reform efforts, and the people of CDO, for whose benefit these efforts were undertaken," he said
"I also share the honor with the people of Northern Mindanao, for believing in CDO. The 5th Overall Most Competitive Highly Urbanized City Award was a testament of our City's outstanding and consistent topnotch performance in the four categories (Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, Economic Dynamism, and Resiliency," he added.
Cagayan de Oro City beat the country's top financial center- Makati City, as it was named as the “Top 5 Most Competitive City” in the highly urbanized cities category, notching five ranks higher as compared to its overall ranking last year.
Surprisingly, the city outranked Makati City as it only placed 6th in the ranking.
Quezon City was named again as the country’s most competitive city, followed by Manila City and Pasay City as second and third placers, respectively. Davao City ranked fourth.
Pasig City was 7th, Bacolod City ranked 8h, Cebu City at 9th, and Muntinlupa City ranked 10th.
The selection of the overall ranking is based on the four pillars: 1) Resiliency 2) Infrastructure 3) Government Efficiency, and 4) Economic Dynamism.
After just placing No. 22 last year in the resiliency category, Cagayan de Oro City made a huge turnaround in this year’s edition, topping as the ‘most resilient city’ after ranking No. 1.
In the infrastructure category, the city has maintained its 5th ranking, while jumping up two ranks in economic dynamism, from 15th last year to 13th this year.
Cagayan de Oro City likewise improved its ranking in government efficiency category, placing 7th in 2018 as compared to 16th place last year.
The recognition was given during the 6th Regional Competitiveness Summit organized by the Department of Trade and Industry held on August 16 at the Philippine International Convention Center.