RDC 11 sets 11 priorities for 2016

• Source:http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1591452843973/rdc-11-sets-11-priorities-for-2016
• Friday, January 15, 2016

By Jeanevive D. Abangan (PIA 11)

DAVAO CITY, Jan. 15 (PIA)--Before he ends his term as chairperson of the Davao Regional Devt Council in June this year, at a mature age of 82, Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo P. del Rosario sets 11 priorities for the development planning body to pursue in 2016.

Among the RDC 11 priorities are the Implementation of the Roadmap to Address the Impact of El Nino; linking Davao Regions industry clusters with global value chains to significantly bring stability and growth opportunities for small and medium enterprises; and the implementation of the Davao Food Terminal Complex in Toril, Davao City.

Other Davao Region RDC priorities include the review of the Davao Light Rail Transit (LRT) Project proposed by the Davao City Government, the closure of issues related to the Davao Sasa Port Modernization Project, and the completion of the 300 megawatt San Miguel Corporation Global Power Coal Plant Project in Malita, Davao Occ.

The RDC also wants to ensure the conduct of the full blown feasibility study of the Samal Bridge Project which was the recommendation of the pre-FS completed in 2015, secure the implementation of the development, operation , and maintenance of the Davao Airport; and update the Davao Region Human Resource Development Plan to address the job-skills mismatch.

Del Rosario also advocates the passage of House Bill 4412 and Senate Bill 2292 into law to establish the Davao Regional State University system, the first ever regional state university in the country.

Before he bows out of office, Del Rosario wants the RDC to conduct preparatory activities to formulate the Davao Region Successor Plan 2017-2022 together with its accompanying documents, the Results Matrices, the Regional Development Investment Program and the Regional Development Research Agenda.

Del Rosario wanted the formulation process to start before he ends his term as the RDC chairperson. He views the Successor Plan as mechanism to ensure that priorities set will be supported and continued by the next RDC chairperson whatever would be the outcome of the national and local elections.

Meanwhile, Del Rosario encourages his successor to push the set priorities and aim to get a substantial share of the annual budget. However, he said requests for inclusion in the national budget should be in accordance with needs of the Davao Region constituents.