RDC XI Reviews Davao Region’s Economic Performance and Supports the Formulation of the Philippine and Davao Region Strategic Plans 2020
The Regional Development Council (RDC) XI reviewed the Davao Region’s economic performance during the first 3 quarters of 2008 and endorsed the formulation of the Philippine Strategic Plan 2020, including a similar plan for the Davao Region, during its last regular meeting of the year on Thursday, December 18, 2008 at the NEDA-RDC XI Center in Davao City. The meeting was presided by RDC XI Chair Vicente T. Lao of the private sector. Gov. Corazon Malanyaon of Davao Oriental; representatives of the business and basic sectors, namely, Engr. Eriberto Barriga, Jr. of the IT sector, Dr. Iris Melliza of the academe, Mr. Louis Rabat of the grains sector, Atty. Domingo Duerme of the coops, Mr. Nazario Cacayan of the energy sector, Datu Florillo Andresan of the indigenous peoples, Ms. Alma Mondragon of the women sector, Mr. Jessie Pagaran of the labor sector, and Mr. Conrado Sillada of the urban poor; regional directors of national agencies, and representatives of other local government units attended the meeting.
RDC XI Vice-Chair and NEDA XI Regional Director Maria Lourdes D. Lim said that the region continued to perform well during the first 9 months of the year amidst the global financial crisis. She said that the production of the region’s major export commodities, such as banana and coconut, increased. Fishery production also continued to rise, buoyed by the large leap in the volume of aquaculture production. The region’s balance of trade improved to US$205.3 million. Its tourist arrivals and earnings also rose by around 10 percent. A total of 479 infrastructure projects worth P1.1 billion were also completed as of 3rd quarter this year.
RD Lim also mentioned that inflation rate has started to ease down after rising food and oil prices during the first semester of the year pushed inflation rate to as high as 15.2 percent in July. She also cited that although the region has not been largely affected by the global financial crisis its economic growth would likely slow down next year as many of its trading partners have been adversely hit. Employment of the region’s OFWs may not be expected to expand next year in traditional host countries, such as the United States and , except in Middle East countries.
RD Lim said that the region should treat the crisis as an opportunity by producing more competitive export products. It should also ready itself for the possibility of more multinationals and other foreign business firms, such as business process outsourcing, setting up in the region.
In responding to the need for the region to be resilient in the future when faced with similar crises, RDC XI signified its support to the formulation of the Philippine Strategic Plan 2020 and a similar plan for the region. RD Lim said that the Plan 2020 is a brainchild of Socio-economic Planning Secretary and NEDA Director General Ralph Recto and will take off from the Medium-Term Philippine Development Plan 2004-2010. It aims to position the country globally in the critical decade ahead. It will contain strategic policies and programs revolving around the acronym HEARTS which stands for Health, Education, Agriculture and Environment, Roads/Bridges/Railroads, Trade/Technology/Tourism, and Security. The plan is expected to be out middle of next year.
Aside from the above issues, RDC XI also tackled the updates and recommendations of its Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC). The RPMC reported that most of the key projects in irrigation, power, seaports, and roads in the region have been completed. The rehabilitation and repair of Mati wharf is ahead of schedule and almost 80 percent complete. The improvement of the Monkayo-Diwalwal Road is also on time and is around 76 percent done. Only the Maramag-Bunawan 230kV Transmission Backbone Project is slightly delayed by 3 percent and is only about 27 percent complete.
The RPMC also reported that there is a 3-meter gap in the Mati-Manay section of the Surigao-Davao Oriental Coastal Road project that has not been completed, which RDC XI endorsed to DPWH for appropriate action.
Aside from the RPMC report, RDC XI Chair Vicente Lao also reported the results of the 6th NEDA Board-Regional Development Committee meeting. Dr. Iris A. Melliza, also a private sector representative (PSR), reported on the National Conference of PSRs held last month in Manila.
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