DAVAO ORIENTAL — The province of Davao Oriental has ranked third in the Overall Most Competitive Provinces in Davao Region for the year 2020.

This was announced during the 4^th Davao Region Competitiveness Awarding on February 24, 2021, in Davao City via Zoom Video Conferencing.

The said award is based on the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) — Competitiveness Bureau, measuring the overall competitiveness based on Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, Infrastructure, and Resiliency.

According to the DTI Provincial Office, the province got the said recognition as a result of the population and income weighted average of the overall scores of the municipalities and the component city under the province, meeting the criteria based on the four pillars of the LGU, namely, economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, and resiliency.

The LGUs under the province that received this recognition are:

Top 10 Most Improved LGUs (Davao Region)

Category: 3^rd to 4^th Class Municipalities

• San Isidro – 1^st Place
• Tarragona -2^nd Place
• Boston – 7^th Place

Category: 1^st to 2^nd Class Municipalities

• Manay – 1^st Place
• Cateel – 3^rd Place
• Lupon – 7^th Place

Category: Component Cities

• Mati City: 3^rd Place

Top 10 in Economic Dynamism (Davao Region)

Category: 3^rd to 4^th Class Municipalities

• San Isidro – 2^nd Place
• Boston – 10^th Place

Category: 1^st to 2^nd Class Municipalities

• Lupon – 4^th Place
• Banaybanay-  7^th Place
• Manay – 10^th Place

Category: Component Cities

• Mati City: 4^th Place

Top 10 in Government Efficiency (Davao Region)

Category: 3^rd to 4^th Class Municipalities

• San Isidro – 5^th Place
• Tarragona – 9^th Place

Category: 1^st to 2^nd Class Municipalities

• Lupon – 5^th Place
• Baganga – 10^th Place

Category: Component Cities

• Mati City – 4^th Place

Top 10 in Infrastructure (Davao Region)

Category: 3^rd to 4^th Class Municipalities

• San Isidro – 7^th Place
• Tarragona – 9^th Place

Category: 1^st to 2^nd Class Municipalities

• Lupon – 7^th Place

Category: Component Cities

• Mati City: 3^rd Place

Top 10 in Resiliency (Davao Region)

Category: 3^rd to 4^th Class Municipalities

• San Isidro – 5^th place
• Boston – 8^th place

Category: 1^st to 2^nd Class Municipalities

• Baganga – 7^th Place
• Lupon – 8^th Place
• Banaybanay – 10^th Place

Category: Component Cities

• Mati City: 4^th Place

Top 10 Overall Most Competitive (Davao Region)

Category: 3^rd to 4^th Class Municipalities

• San Isidro – 6^th Place
• Tarragona – 9^th Place

Category: 1^st to 2^nd Class Municipalities

• Lupon – 7^th Place
• Baganga – 10^th Place

Category: Component Cities

• Mati City: 4^th Place

With these achievements on economic development and growth on the standard for competitiveness, Davao Oriental, this year holds the 39^th place in the entire country in terms of competitiveness.  

DTI XI Trade Industry Development Analyst Marvin Anthony Bravo said that Davao Oriental has what it takes to be among the LGUs at the top since “its ranking is improving and it still has room to strive better than its current state and allow neighboring LGUs to a brotherhood-like environment all for the region’s sustainable growth.”

Governor Nelson Dayanghirang welcomed the province’s newest feat. “Opportunities for success in business now abound in Davao Oriental because we now have the facilities, the skills, and the competence to get things done. And we are fully committed to pursuing both the prosperity of our people and the prosperity of those who have placed their confidence in us,” he said.

“Being among the most competitive provinces in the country, I invite everyone to ride on the wave of optimism in our province and invest in Davao Oriental, be it in agriculture, infrastructure, tourism, or any other sector. Let us create opportunities and strategies to achieve the best for our people. The best, and nothing less,” said the Governor.

With the province’s effort in providing an efficient and business-friendly environment, the province is set to receive a plaque of recognition as the third overall most competitive province in Davao Region with Davao De Oro taking the 2^nd spot while Davao Del Norte grabbed the 1^st spot and 2^nd place in the entire country. By Mark Alvite