DIPOLOG CITY - The members of the Regional Development Council (RDC)-IX have convened
here recently for the regional consultation on the 2011-2016 Philippine
Development Plan (PDP).
The council tackled the different
regional issues such as the lack of economic growth, poverty, low unemployment
and under employment rates, low export, low agricultural productivity, unstable
peace and order situation, untapped mineral resources, underdeveloped
agricultural and urban lands, inadequate airport and seaport equipment
facilities, low funding priority for projects, less irrigated area, lack of
health financing and health care programs, inadequate supply of electricity,
low crime solution efficiency rate, low tax and non-tax revenues, and lack of
housing projects for those incapable of
building their own.
RDC-IX chair Mayor Evelyn
T. Uy has expressed confidence that the participating agencies/organizations
from the government and private sectors, state universities and colleges,
academe, non-government organizations (NGOs) could give good inputs to the
workshop the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA)-IX would be
facilitating in order to come up with appropriate solutions to the above issues
and problems.
NEDA-IX project monitoring
staff director Roderick Planta discussed with the council members the inclusive
growth framework and plan updating including the results matrix.
Moreover, the Mindanao
Development Authority (MinDA) presented the Mindanao 2020 Development Plan
followed by an audio-visual presentation on the Zamboanga Peninsula Regional
Development Plan for 2011 to 2016.
In order to properly
address these issues, the council conducted a workshop by dividing the group into
four committees, namely, the Development Administration Committee headed by the
Department of Budget and Management (DBM)-IX Regional
Director Nilda Cemine, Agri-Industrial Development Committee led by
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)-IX Regional Director Nasrullah Manzur, Social Development Committee headed by
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-IX Regional Director Zenaida
Arevalo, and Infrastructure Development Committee chaired by Department of
Public works and Highways (DPWH)-IX Regional Director Jorge Sebastian Jr. (PIA9)