THE Regional Development Council (RDC)-Davao Region launched the Davao Regional Development Plan (DRDP) for 2017 to 2022 Friday, July 7, held at SMX Convention Center, presenting the blueprints of various ongoing and future developments in the region under the Duterte Administration.
DRDP of 2017 to 2022 anchored on President Rodrigo Duterte's Socioeconomic Agenda that is the Sustainable Development Goal, aiming to work towards the collective visions of Filipinos over the next 25 years.
RDC-Davao Region vice chairperson Maria Lourdes Lim, during the DRDP launching, said the plan aims to set an 11.5 percent economic growth in the region in 2022 by instilling projects connecting all provinces, municipalities, and cities in the region.
"Creating a strong connection in Davao Region means creating ways to physically connect them. That is why we have several projects that could provide easy access and transportation for the region," Lim said.
These projects, Lim said, include the Davao-Samal Bridge Project being rolled down by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Davao Region.
The feasibility study on the project is ongoing since December 2016. The feasibility study of the Davao City Express Way, she added, is also ongoing and is expected to be finished in September. She also said the Chinese government has sent an interest to financially assist the estimated P24.5 billion budget for the said project.
Lim said RDC-Davao Region has proposed an Integrated Port Complex, connecting ports around Davao Gulf to ensure efficient management of port services in the region. In social and economic sectors, Lim said RDC also have billions of pesos worth of ongoing and future projects. Yet, they are still on the planning stage with other members of RDC 11 for specific list of programs.
Current programs include the K-12 program of Department of Education, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the ongoing scholarship programs by different local government units, and improvements of health facilities. Lim said agriculture is also one of the major priorities in the DRDP.
"The Food Terminal Complex in Daliao Toril is now on it 90 percent completion. The five hectares out of the 25 hectares of land owned by National Development Cooperation is being developed into a ‘bagsakan’ of various goods in the region," she said, adding that RDC-Davao Region supports farmers in the region who are producing bananas, coconuts, coffee beans and cacao as one third of agricultural goods from the region.
The RDC official assured Davao Region that all plans set are achievable, hoping that local government units in the region will participate and take an effort to implement programs in line with the DRDP 2017 to 2022.