Thursday, February 14, 2008 Investments in Davao to focus on 4 areas By Joy Romares-Sevilla
THE regional office of the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) Southern Mindanao revealed that the bulk of public investments in Davao Region this year would focus on at least four areas.
These areas include the infrastructure support to the Mindanao Agribusiness and the Cyber Corridor Super Region strategies and the Davao Region industry cluster strategy; the extension support services for agricultural production; mass housing; and environmental management and sustainable development.
Neda Southern Mindanao Regional Director Nicasio Angelo Agustin told Sun.Star Davao that the government would continue to invest in infrastructure support facilities in the region such as farm-to-market roads, irrigation systems, post harvest storage facilities, and others.
"For extension support services for agricultural production, the government assistance would also expand to improve accessibility to rural credit, market expansion for agricultural products, area expansion and distribution of high-yielding variety seeds," Agustin said.
He said the government intends to undertake massive coconut planting and replanting all over the Davao Region this year.
"With funds from the KR2 (Kennedy Round 2), high grade charcoal production project will be implemented in Davao Oriental," Agustin said.
Meanwhile, through the Home Mutual Development Fund (HMDF) or Pag-Ibig Fund, Agustin said the government has allocated P30 billion for home financing this year. Such fund will benefit the Pag-Ibig members, particularly those from the low-income and middle-income levels.
He said Pag-Ibig has adjusted interest rates downward and extended the repayment period to as long as 30 years to make house acquisition more affordable.
Finally, for the environmental management and sustainable development, Agustin said the Department of Environment and Natural resources (DENR) will provide funds for the establishment of fruit and forest tree plantations, vegetable production areas, and rattan furniture making.
DENR will also implement an integrated watershed management and sustainable development project with an integrated coastal resource management project with the Provincial Government of Davao Oriental.
