Private sector eyed in push for LGU growth

MANILA, Philippines - The inter-agency National Competitiveness Council (NCC) is seeking greater participation of the private sector in pushing the growth of local government units (LGUs) nationwide by at least 50 percent over the next five years.

In a press conference, NCC chairman and former Trade Secretary Cesar Bautista said they will be tapping the private sector to help cities and towns across the country prosper.

“There are economic sunrise industries in the regions and we will guide the municipalities in identifying where they could be competitive,” Bautista said.

He said they have already identified 80 cities and five municipalities that are poised to move forward economically.

“It would be most practical for the firms and the LGUs to take advantage of the lull in economic activity in this period to consider strengthening productivity and competitiveness,” Bautista said.

“This way they will be better prepared to compete in the global arena once the economic cycle turns back to more challenging times,” he added.

He said the goal is to look at model cities like Marikina and emulate the growth it has tracked. Bohol, he added, is another success story as the province was able to market itself as a world-class tourism destination.

“There is a need to build up skills of the chief executive of each city and municipality,” Bautista noted.

The NCC will conduct a second LGU conference, with the theme “LGUs as spark plugs for sustained Philippine competitiveness,” to discuss the issues that impede competitiveness in particular priority sectors.

The first LGU conference discussed international and local best practices in attaining competitiveness as well the investment opportunities in the four sectors, namely agribusiness, mining, information technology and business process outsourcing and tourism.