Northern Mindanao local government units (LGUs) garnered top awards during the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) awarding ceremonies held in Manila on Friday.

For the 5th to 6th class category, Kauswagan, Lanao del Norte was named Most Competitive municipality, followed by Tubod, Surigao del Norte; and Santa Catalina, Ilocos Sur.

Kauswagan also topped the Economic Dynamism and Government Efficiency components, was No. 4 in Infrastructure, and No. 10 in Innovation.

For the 3rd to 4th class category, Mambajao in Camiguin ranked second in the Most Competitive Municipality behind Can-avid, Samar.

San Felipe, Zambales placed third.

Mambajao bagged second due to its performance in the component categories, where it placed 5th in Economic Dynamism and 10th in Government Efficiency.

The province of Camiguin also placed sixth overall in the Most Competitive Province while the towns of Catarman and Mahinog were seventh and 10th, respectively, in the Most Competitive municipalities in the 5th to 6th Class category.

Rizal, Laguna and Davao del Norte were the top three Most Competitive Provinces.

Meanwhile, this city placed sixth in the Most Competitive Highly Urbanized City (HUC), where it topped the Resiliency category; placed sixth in Innovation; seventh in Infrastructure, Government Efficiency, and Most Improved HUC; and ninth in the Economic Dynamism category.

Quezon City, Manila and Pasay City, all in the National Capital Region, were the top thee Most Competitive HUCs.

John Asuncion, the Cagayan de Oro Trade and Investment Promotions Center head who received the award, attributed their success in resiliency through the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Department led by Nick Jabagat.

“This is a big jump in Economic Dynamism, from 14th to 9th (in previous years),” Asuncion said.

The CMCI is an annual ranking of Philippine cities and municipalities developed by the National Competitiveness Council through the Regional Competitiveness Committees with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development. (PNA)