The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) has recorded a 300 percent increase in business name registration for the first quarter this year, indicating the economy is starting to boom as local government units (LGUs) level up in their competitiveness efforts.
This was revealed by Trade Secretary Ramon M. Lopez at the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) Summit: Best among the BARMM LGUs where they are ranked according to their competitiveness on four pillars aligned with the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index. These four established pillars are economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, and resiliency.
Lopez noted that the record high increase in business name registration is a “good basis to say that economy is starting to boom right now in BARMM.”
Aside from the booming BARMM economy, Lopez cited how BARMM LGUs are fortifying towards a genuinely responsive government as they participated in the BARMM Governance Summit held in July this year.
In addition, Lopez said that from the initial 36 LGUs that voluntarily joined in 2020, the number grew to 109 from a total of 119 LGUs representing five provinces in BARMM attended the CMCI orientation last July 28. “This is an affirmation that BARMM is in support of the CMCI initiative,” he said.
The CMCI is a tool to help LGUs achieve their goals of cultivating a globally competitive and innovative industry and services sector.
“Creating competitive BARMM LGUs will push for greater inclusive growth and employment generation in the region. We’d like to note that the CMCI will help us in our responsibility in developing smarter Filipino entrepreneurs. After all, the CMCI can also provide information for our entrepreneurs to determine the suitability of the local business environment to their needs,” said Lopez.
Recognized at the CMCI BARMM are LGUs that have excelled in their criteria for competitiveness.
On Infrastructure Pillar (Class 5-6) are Datu Hoffer Ampatuan, Maguindanao; (Class 3-4) Piagapo, Lanao del Sur; (Class 1-2) Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao; and component city Lamitan City, Basilan.
On Resiliency Pillar, the awardees are (Class 5-6) component city Lamitan, Basilan; (Class 5-6) Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao; (Class 3-4) General Salipada K. Pendatun, Maguindanao; (Class 1-2) Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao; and component city Lamitan City, Basilan.
The winners on Government Efficiency are (Class 5-6) Datu Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao; (Class 3-4) Buldon, Maguindanao; (Class 1-2) Jolo, Sulu; and component city Lamitan City, Basilan.
On economic dynamism, the awardees include (Class 5-6) Sultan Mastura, Maguindanao; (Class 3-4) General Salipada K. Pendatun, Maguindanao; (Class 1-2) Jolo, Sulu; and component city Lamitan City, Basilan.
Overall competitiveness awardees include (Class 5-6) Datu Abdullah Sangki, Maguindanao; (Class 3-4) Buldon, Maguindanao; (Class 1-2) Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao; and component cities Lamitan City and Marawi City.
“These deserving LGUs that have excelled in our criteria for competitiveness,” said Lopez.
The CMCI is an annual ranking of our cities and municipalities managed by the Department of Trade and Industry’s Competitiveness Bureau (DTI-CB) with the aid of Regional Competitiveness Committees (RCCs) and academic institutions. Conceptualized in 2012, the CMCI is a tool for measuring local competitiveness by providing LGUs, businesses, and investors a comprehensive data-driven outlook of thecities and municipalities.
In the CMCI program last year, 1,552 LGUs out of the 1,634 LGUs across the country participated. This number includes the 36 BARMM LGUs recognized in today’s awarding ceremony.
“But even though the primary objective of the CMCI Summit today is to award and recognize the ‘Best among the BARMM LGUs,’ we must keep in mind that the CMCI is more than just giving out trophies and awards. This index also serves as an encouragement and a reminder for LGUs to continually strive to do better,” Lopez pointed out.