CAGAYAN de Oro and Misamis Oriental emerged as among the most competitive cities and provinces in the country during the 3rd Regional Competitiveness Summit at the Philippine International Convention Center in Metro Manila. One one hand, Cagayan de Oro emerged second place out of the 1,098 participating local government units that vied for competitiveness. On the other hand, Misamis Oriental ranked as the No. 2 Most Competitive Province overall. The National Competitiveness Council (NCC) awarded the city as the most competitive highly urbanized city for government efficiency, second to Iloilo City. Makati came in third. The National Competitiveness Council, through the Regional Competitiveness Committees, launched the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index way back in 2013 with only 285 local governments as participants. This year, 2015, 1,098 local governments participated to determine their performance against other cities and municipalities in terms of the three Pillars: Economic Dynamism, Government Efficiency, and Infrastructure. Apart from the awarding ceremony, the CMCI website containing the data provided by the local governments and infographics will also be launched for better appreciation. The data can be used by potential investors in deciding where to locate their businesses. More importantly, the data can serve as a tool for the local governments to evaluate the competitiveness of their localities and take the steps to improve performance and attractiveness for investments. Mayor Oscar Moreno said he was very pleased with Cagayan de Oro’s “oustanding and noteworthy performance... inspite of the unmitigated and relentless onslaught from all angles and dimension... openly intended to paralyze and obstruct our efforts to serve the people of Cagayan de Oro the best way possible.” He said despite obstacles, the city hall figured prominently well in elevating the city to greater heights. For his part, Misamis Oriental Gov. Yevgeny Vincente Emano said, “We acknowledge with distinct pride the recognition Misamis Oriental got as the second most competitive province out of 81 provinces in the country. We worked hard not for any reason but because it is what our people deserve. They deserve no less than the best from their elected officials. This honor belongs to the our people.”