Iloilo - President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo said the country's five notch improvement in its ranking in the Institute for International Management and Development survey and the four-rank improvement for competitiveness in the World Economic Forum, are attributed to the performance of the National Competitiveness Council (NCC).

Arroyo commended the NCC, which will be two years in October, for its initiatives on competitiveness that have influenced many industries and the government as well, during the meeting which she called for.

Arroyo said she called the meeting to make sure that the government remains on track to improve business and investment climate and to continue global competitiveness.

Despite the relatively commendable performance, the President said there is still a need to reassess the Philippines' strategies for global competitiveness because there are challenges in the global economic front.

"The best buffer to this external vulnerability is domestic and internal strength," Arroyo said.

The President vowed to continue working on improving the economy and be vigilant against further economic challenges.

The NCC working groups presented to the President their concerns and recommendations on the following: efficient public and private sector management, effective access to financing, improved transaction costs and flows, seamless infrastructure network, energy cost competitiveness and self-sufficiency, special concerns and competitive human resources.

In her 2006 SONA, Arroyo has outlined five comprehensive strategies for global competitiveness: plentiful and affordable food to keep labor cost globally competitive; reduced cost of electricity to make factories regionally competitive; modernized infrastructure to efficiently transport goods and people; upgraded knowledge and technologies disseminated for productivity, and, reduced red tape to cut business cost.

Arroyo also said that every Filipino is called on to make a commitment to continue working together and creating a stronger and more competitive Philippines in the midst of external threats to local economy. - www.gov.ph