Over 500 stakeholders from local government units (LGUs) and public and private sectors witnessed the official launch of the Davao Regional Development Plan or DRDP for 2017-2022spearheaded by the Regional Development Council in Davao (RDC XI). The event was held on July 7 at the SMX Convention Center with the slogan ‘Committing to Sustain Change.’
A press conference with RDC XI Chairperson Anthony Del Rosario, Assistant Secretary (Asec) Mercedita Sombilla, Vice Chair Maria Lourdes Lim and RDC XI sectoral committee chairpersons ushered in the RDP launch.
“I say that complacency has no place in the Plan, let us be one, for ours should be a collective effort in making Davao a safe, peaceful, productive and well-developed region,” Del Rosario said. He urged all sectors to be proactive and to step up on their respective roles and mandates to ensure that the Plan’s implementation reduce poverty and usher growth.
Lim, on the other hand, announced the major programs and projects such as the Food Terminal Complex, Davao-Samal Bridge, Davao City Expressway and Proposed Integrated Port Complex, to enhance productivity and connectivity in the region.
In her Keynote message, Asec Sombilla urged the Davaoeños to actively pursue their aspirations as these are now within reach. Meanwhile, Davao Oriental 1st District Representative Corazon Malanyaon, Compostela Valley 1st District Representative Maria Carmen Zamora and Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Ronald Go also conveyed their messages of support based on the DRDP’s pillars of Malasakit, Pagbabago and Patuloy na Pag-unlad.
The program culminated with the unveiling of the DRDP and its accompanying documents by the RDC’s chair and vice chair, witnessed by Davao’s Congresspersons and local chief executives, including Davao Mayor Sara Duterte Carpio. Participants, on the other hand, signed the Pledge Wall bearing key action points based on the RDP pillars. The launch also featured booths and exhibits showcasing the products, plans, programs and services of LGUs and national government agencies.
The DRDP framework closely dovetails that of the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), with each strategy focusing on the needs of Davao. By 2022, Davao’s economic growth rate is set at 11.5 percent. Overall poverty rate is targeted to decline from 16.1 percent in 2015 to 13.6 percent by 2022
Before the event, the PDP Roadshow was held highlighted by a motorcade coming from the Davao City People’s Park then proceeded to the SMX Convention Center, carrying the slogan “Tara Na! Ambisyon, Aksyunan Nato Karon!.
Felicidad M. Rabe, NEDA Davao
Photos by NEDA Davao