DTI holds first Philippine Creative Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Congress | Department of Trade and Industry Philippines

MANILA CITY—On 28 September 2023, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) brought together a diverse and passionate group of leaders, policymakers, and creative minds to discuss and strategize the elevation of local competitiveness through the development of creative cities and municipalities during the Philippine Creative Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Congress (PCCMCC) held at the iconic Fiesta Pavilion of The Manila Hotel.

Under the theme “Building Creative Cities and Municipalities, Elevating Local Competitiveness,” the event witnessed an impressive turnout of over 400 participants from various sectors, including government officials, artists, entrepreneurs, and community advocates. Attendees engaged in dynamic discussions, shared innovative ideas, and forged meaningful collaborations that will help transform their communities into vibrant hubs of creativity and innovation.

The PCCMCC also recognized this year’s most competitive municipalities, cities, and provinces during the CMCI Conferment Ceremony. Ranked based on the CMCI total competitiveness scoring system, the 2023 Overall Most Competitive Highly Urbanized City in the Country is awarded to Quezon City. Also included in the list of awardees are the Cities of Pasay and Manila, which ranked 2^nd and 3^rd Overall Most Competitive Cities among the highly urbanized cities, respectively.

It also highlighted government executives and industry experts, including Cong. Christopher V.P. De Venecia, Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Director General Atty. Ernesto V. Perez, Liveable Cities Philippines Chairman and Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation Chief Resilience Officer Guillermo M. Luz, Globe Telecom Inc.-Business Development eGovernment Director Dennis L. Javier, CMCI Hall of Famer and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, who delivered insightful keynote addresses that emphasized the critical role of competitiveness and creativity in driving economic growth and fostering sustainable development at the local level.

Building More Creative Cities, Celebrating Significant Strides in the Ease of Doing Business, Creating Liveable and Smart Cities, Upholding the Competitiveness of the Local Chief Executives, and Igniting Filipino Ingenuity for a Sustainable and Competitive Nation through technology are among the topics bannered under CMCI Talks.

Apart from the networking sessions which allowed attendees to connect, exchange ideas, and establish partnerships with like-minded individuals and organizations committed to advancing creative communities, PCCMCC also featured an exhibition area where private sectors including startups and innovation enablers showcased their innovative projects and initiatives aimed at promoting local competitiveness.

To allow digital engagement, an online platform was also available for remote attendees, ensuring that the event’s reach extended beyond the physical venue.

In his keynote address, DTI Secretary Fred Pascual expressed his optimism for the future of the country’s creative industry, emphasizing, “Through our Competitiveness Bureau (CB), we are constantly developing and nurturing partnerships with the academe, the public and private sectors, as well as development organizations to have a more comprehensive and united approach to achieving our goal of a more competitive Philippines.”

“Together, let us traverse this exciting journey towards the Philippines imbued with creativity, competitiveness, and resilience. Let us weave our dreams and efforts into a tapestry of shared visions and aspirations,” the trade and industry chief added.

The PCCMCC is organized by the Department of Trade and Industry, through its Competitiveness Bureau (CB), in collaboration with local government units, creative industry associations, and partners from the private sector. ♦

Date of Release: 28 September 2023

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