DAVAO CITY— Charting out a unified development direction consistent with the vision of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., the members of the Davao Regional Development Council XI Executive Committee convened on Thursday, February 2, in Davao City to discuss vital strategies, as well as urgent issues and concerns needed to be addressed to ensure the region’s inclusive growth and development.
Presided by RDC XI Chairperson Davao Oriental Governor Corazon N. Malanyaon, the RDC Executive Committee meeting discussed issues on power, food security, peace and order concerns, and other major national policies set to be implemented in the region.
On the power issue, Davao del Norte Governor Edwin Jubahib pointed out the urgency to address the high power rates and the fluctuating power supply in the provinces, which hinders economic development. Gov. Jubahib stressed the need for a stable and cheap power source as crucial in attracting investors and visitors to infuse their investments.
Governor Malanyaon concurred with Governor Jubahib and other local chief executives in this concern, saying her province of Davao Oriental also shares this major problem. “We share the same issues. All development-oriented LGUs have recognized the importance of power as one of the essential needs that must be provided to attract investments in a particular area,” said Governor Malanyaon.
RDC Co-Chairperson and Private Sector Representative for Energy and ICT Sector, Mr. Art Milan, underscored utilities, basic infrastructures, and ease of doing business as pillars of development that need to be given emphasis for the region to move forward.
In terms of agri-business, Mr. Milan also mentioned identifying strategic regional products that need to be developed and turned into an industry. “It is high time that each province should identify one crop to produce at an industrial level,” he said.
Governor Malanyaon said that the RDC XI would bring this concern to the Department of Agriculture (DA) to ask for their support and interventions on food security, considering agriculture is one of the region’s major economic drivers.
Aside from power and agriculture, other areas of development have also been discussed. RDC XI Vice Chairperson and National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director Maria Lourdes Lim reported the highlights of the Davao Regional Development Plan (DRDP) 2023-2028, which aims at boosting health, improving education, establishing livable communities, increasing income-earning ability, ensure food security and proper nutrition, and social protection.
It also includes modernized agriculture and agri-business, revitalizing industries, reinvigorating services, trade, and investments, expanding infrastructure, peace and security, and climate action and disaster resilience, among others.
Also discussed during the executive committee meeting were the salient features of the Activation of the Metropolitan Davao Police District (MDPD) presented by Police Lt. General Filmore B. Escobal, Commander of the Area Police Command – Eastern Mindanao.
Meanwhile, to help Local Government Units push their respective economic development plans, the Chief economic development specialists from the NEDA shared key services that the LGUs may avail, such as project development, project program review and approval, and project implementation. “The LGUs are expected to optimize the technical assistance that the RDC XI Secretariat can provide in light of the full devolution of certain national government functions to the local government unit,” said Governor Malanayon.
Also present during the meeting were Governor Dorothy Gonzaga of Davao de Oro, Governor Yvonne Cagas of Davao del Sur, and other officials.
The RDC XI is set to hold its Full Council meeting in March this year. PIO, Photos by Mark Alvite
