Work plan needed to raise competitiveness

Competitiveness reports need to be reviewed and scrutinized in the effort to raise the Philippines’ global standing, the National Competitiveness Council’s (NCC) new private sector representative said Tuesday. Annual rankings have to be analyzed, says the NCC’s Guillermo M. Luz "The objective is to be more competitive by analyzing so many aspects of the data and make a work plan based on that data," said Guillermo M. Luz, who has been tapped to replace former NCC co-chairman Cesar B. Bautista. "We need to map and identify which agencies are responsible for the indicator," Mr. Luz said in a telephone interview. "Also, we will link data with LGUs (local government units) for them to gravitate and join more competitive cities," he added. Mr. Luz said the NCC would have to review the World Economic (WE) Forum’s Global Competitiveness Report where the Philippines was ranked 83rd out of 133 economies last year, a slight improvement from 87th in the previous year. Problems will also be identified via the International Finance Corp. and the World Bank’s Doing Business report, which placed the country 148th out of 183 economies in 2009-2010, down from its 2008-2009 rank of 146th. FutureBrand and BBC World News’ Country Brand Index (CBI), which measures the level of awareness, familiarity with a country as well as preference for a country and consideration to visit it, among others, will also be reviewed. The Philippines ranked 65th among 110 countries last year, down from 36th in 2009. "The WE Forum deals with macroeconomy, the IFC with businesses and the CBI with image and culture," Mr. Luz said. He declined to cite areas of concern pending the review but said "education is part of the agenda." The NCC, a public-private group tasked with determining competitiveness policy, was created in 2006 by virtue of Executive Order 571. It is co-chaired by the Trade secretary and a private sector representative. Mr. Luz, a former executive director of the Makati Business Club, said he would work concurrently as executive vice-president and chief operating officer of the Ayala Foundation. -- AMGR, BusinessWorld