Determined to defeat poverty and uplift the lives of her constituents, Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon is making agriculture and tourism the primary tools for economic recovery, as she considers them potent weapons against poverty.
During the consultation with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XI on the Davao Regional Development Plan on September 22, Governor Malanyaon underscored agriculture and tourism’s vast role in attaining sustainable development.
She said her “development agenda is simple and straightforward as it will only revolve on programs that involve poverty reduction,” noting that “the province will only invest in what is essential and has a direct impact on her constituents.”
“Defeating poverty has always been the battle cry of my administration. That’s why this early, on my first 100 days in office, we have started putting on the ground specific programs all aimed at defeating poverty,” said Gov. Malanyaon as she shared her ‘Development Agenda and Program Governance with a Heart.”
She cited her administration’s programs like the Oplan Karsada, Oplan Pailaw, Oplan Patubig, Improved Pagkain at Kita (IMPAK), the Establishment of Renewable Energy Resources, and Davao Oriental Beautiful, among many others. These programs directly support the agriculture and tourism sectors, enabling farmers to increase their income and making the province a tourism and investment-ready haven.
“Agriculture and tourism are our main economic thrust considering the province’s character. No one can beat Davao Oriental in terms of tourism. I know that, and I’m very certain. Each of our municipalities and city has its own charm and attraction. That’s why we are already adopting the tagline Davao Oriental Beautiful,” she added, stressing that the province has what it takes to become a premier tourist destination in the country.
Governor Malanyaon also underscored the province’s potential in agriculture, with it having the biggest land area in the region. “There is a need for the province to graduate from subsistence farming and maximize the province’s land area,” she said, noting that there is no reason that there should be low productivity with the province’s vast agricultural potential.
𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗶’𝘀 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹
The City of Mati, the province’s capital and the center of all economic activities in the province, is also making initiatives supporting the thrusts of the provincial leadership.
City of Mati Mayor Michelle Rabat expressed her strong support for the Governor’s development agenda. “The Governor already set in motion and has set everything in place. So, where the leader goes, we follow. The leader of the pack will lead us, then we just follow using our resources, so we go a long way,” said Mayor Rabat, as she concurred with the governor’s program in agriculture and tourism, which are also the assets of her city.
She mentioned the soon-to-operate Mati City Airport, which is now under the final stages of the settlement. “With that being done, we can now present what we have to offer in the province and the city,” she said.
Meanwhile, leveraging its potential in agro-fishery and banking on its location along the Tuna Highway, Mayor Rabat announced the soon-to-operate Mati City Fish Port. This port is anticipated to become a major hub for fishing activities, thus, will help transform the local economy and boost trade.
NEDA XI Regional Director Maria Lourdes Lim lauded the province of Davao Oriental and the City of Mati for their sound plans and programs, which align with the Davao Regional Development Plan, the Eight-Point Socio-Economic Agenda of the Marcos administration, and the Davao Region Spatial Development Strategy for 2015-2045.
She said all these plans will immensely help usher Davao Region to sustainable growth and accelerated economic transformation. By KLDeloso| Photos by Remel Perez
