Message from the MFC XI Chairperson
The challenges of development in our Region remain formidable. The global economic crisis may seem to be coming to an end as economic indicators in the U.S. and Europe show some bottoming out, or in some cases have even begun to move upwards. The impact of this positive development, however, remains to be felt in the local economy.
For several years now, neighboring regions have recorded growth rates higher than ours since the reconfiguration of Mindanao regions that re-distributed the SoCSKSarGen block towards the end of 2001. The National Statistical Coordination Board (NSCB) reported that our region has been lagging behind in terms of agricultural and manufacturing outputs since 2002.
Indicators of development such as poverty incidence (30.6%), maternal mortality rate (105 deaths per 100,000 livebirths) and underemployment rate (21.9%), among others, leave us so much to desire. Similarly, because of poverty, about 30% of the region’s children aged 6-12 years old are not enrolled in elementary schools.
To address these major challenges, there is an urgent need for government and the private sector to work together in coming up with measurable goals. There is also a need to lessen the duplication of efforts among NGAs and LGUs in view of scarce resources. In addition, LGUs need to collectively work in rationalizing and creating synergies that will generate more positive developmental impacts, not otherwise realizable by independent action alone.
With private sector support and a united approach, we are confident that our region’s socioeconomic growth indicators will improve and we will be able to regain our premier position in Mindanao.
The Macroeconomy & Finance Committee, together with the rest of RDC XI, are committed to support the acceleration of economic development in Region XI. Our task is to come up with meaningful and practicable metrics that allow our leaders to evaluate the efforts they have exerted to build our region and impact positively on the lives of its residents. In this humble way, we hope to contribute in the search for the best and fastest way towards relevant people-centered development.
Mabuhay ang Davao Region !
SIMEON P. MARFORI II
Chairperson, MFC XI
Sectoral Committees
- Development Administration Commitee
- Economic Development Commitee
- Infrastructure Development Commitee
- Social Development Commitee
- Macroeconomy And Finance Commitee