Tuesday, October 03, 2006 SPDA to adopt corporate structure
TO EFFECTIVELY serve its purpose as the implementing economic development arm of the 1996 government-MNLF (Moro National Liberation Front) Peace Agreement, the Southern Philippines Development Authority (SPDA) will re-establish itself as a leaner and meaner agency by operating as a corporate structure.
This was emphasized by Secretary Datu Zamzamin Ampatuan, the newly-appointed SPDA administrator, during the formal reactivation of the SPDA at the SPDA complex in Catalunan Pequeño, over the weekend.
"More than just operating on its present assets, the SPDA will go into investment generation and will be project-oriented. This will not be a picnic; we are going to roll our sleeves, rework processes and ensure that we will develop and implement good and sound livelihood projects," noted Ampatuan, the former lead convener of the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).
In emphasizing the importance of establishing a corporate scheme for SPDA, Ampatuan said that the agency will focus on areas that lack investment and explore schemes that will provide more investment access to small entrepreneurs or investors.
In serving as a lean and professional organization under the oversight of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp), the SPDA has been reactivated, with the government's aim to foster and accelerate the balanced growth of the Southern Philippines for national, economic, social, and political stability.
While the SPDA aims to assist efforts in fulfilling the 1996 peace agreement, which includes providing economic assistance, or livelihood services to the MNLF soldiers, Ampatuan also pointed out that "the SPDA's clientele not only involves the MNLF."
As pointed out by Executive Order No. 560, which reactivated it, the SPDA "shall properly coordinate with the Autonomous Regional Government (ARG) in the implementation of projects within the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm)."
To be re-established with a P10 million funding from the President's contingency fund, the SPDA's subsequent budget shall be included in the General Appropriations Act, or national budget.
Undersecretary Virgilio Leyretana Sr., OIC chair of the Mindanao Economic Development Council (Medco) led the turnover of documents to Ampatuan.
Leyretana previously headed the skeletal staff organized under SO 1391 issued in 2004 in accordance with the directive of the President to retrieve and safeguard assets and properties of SPDA following its deactivation by EO 149 in 2002.
"Retrieving and safeguarding the SPDA assets have been a daunting, but nonetheless fulfilling task," Leyretana said, adding that "challenges abound the re-establishment of the SPDA, but I am confident that the new leadership has the vision and capabilities to surpass them."
The SPDA was reactivated through Executive Order No. 560, which President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed last August 29, 2006, in order to pursue development efforts as part of the catch-up plan for the full implementation of the 1996 government-MNLF Peace Agreement.
