The Regional Development Council (RDC) XI with the NEDA Regional Office (NRO) XI, conducted the provincial/city consultations to generate further comments and recommendations from the local government officials and partner stakeholders for the enhancement of the Zamboanga Peninsula (ZamPen) Regional Development Plan (RDP) 2017-2022. The consultations were held last February 1-3 for the following areas: (a) Zamboanga del Norte, Dapitan City, Dipolog City; (b) Zamboanga del Sur, Pagadian City; (c) Zamboanga Sibugay,Ipil; (d) Isabela City; and (e) Zamboanga City.
The consultations aimed to engage various sectors and stakeholders in the formulation of the Plan including the Regional Development Investment Program (RDIP), that would chart the region’s development in the next six years. The consultations also aimed at ensuring that the concerns and priorities of the local government units or LGUs and stakeholders are addressed in the RDP as well as gain their support in the implementation of the said plan.
The drafting of the RDP and RDIP, 2017-2022 commenced during the RDC IX Planning Committee- Technical Working Groups Workshop last November 7-9, 2016 in Pagadian City. The initial draft of the various chapters of the RDP were presented to the Infrastructure Development Committee, Development Administration Committee, Regional Social Development Committee and Economic Development Committee, for their comments and enhancement during the Committees 4th quarter regular meetings.
The progress of RDP formulation, on the other hand, was reported to RDC IX during its 156th Regular Meeting in Pagadian City last December 19, 2016.
The preparation of the RDP 2017-2022 is anchored on the 0+10 Socio-Economic Agenda of the Duterte Administration, AmBisyonNatin 2040 and the RDC IX approved Regional Spatial Development Framework 2016-2045. The ZamPen Priority Programs and Projects for Resource Mobilization and project monitoring reports served as references in the preparation of the RDIP.
The consultations were attended by 375 participants from the business, academe, civil society and non-government organizations, and LGUs. The comments and recommendations generated from the consultations shall be considered in enhancing the draft RDP and RDIP for 2017-2022.
Vilma M. Julian, NRO IV-A
Photos by NRO IV-A