Committee Members and representatives during the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Program Special Committee XI 3rd quarter meeting conducted via Zoom. Photo Credits: BP²P Special Committee XI Secretariat

The Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP²) Program Special Committee convened for its 3rd quarter regular meeting on September 8, 2021 via Zoom teleconferencing to assess and monitor the BP² Program implementation in Davao Region. 

As part of its business agenda, the status of implementation of regional programs, activities and projects, and the summary of the overall progress of the BP² Program in Davao Region were presented vis-à-vis the Davao Region Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP²) Program Implementation Action Plan.  Issues and concerns encountered by the implementing agencies and local government units in the course of the Program implementation were also discussed and appropriate actions were recommended. 

The Provincial Local Government of Davao del Norte, as the sole BP² Program Pilot Province in Davao Region apprised the Committee on the LGUs’ Program implementation.  Engr. Maria Hazel C. Zafra of Davao del Norte Provincial Administrator’s Office also updated the Committee on the status of the Program beneficiaries who are now recipients of the various programs, activities and projects (PAPs) provided by the Province and partner agencies.  The Province is also awaiting the dispatch of the 2nd batch of Program beneficiaries. 

The Committee was also presented with the status of the agencies’ PAPs implemented as of August 2021 in support to the BP² Program in the Region.   The agencies’ accomplishments were monitored based on the proposed PAPs in the Davao BP² Program Implementation Action Plan.  This is to ensure the delivery of commitments of implementing agencies under their respective programs, and ensuring that the beneficiaries meet the concomitant expectations from the Program. 

As part of the monitoring of the implementation of the Region’s BP² Program Communication Action Plan, the BP²P-Information Communication Team also presented the various communication advocacy activities of the implementing agencies.  The advocacy activities captured the agencies’ and LGU’s contributions in the implementation of the Program.  

Further, to provide reassurance to the program beneficiaries, the Committee recommended to adopt the slogan “Komportable at Masaganang Buhay sa Probinsya” (A prosperous and comfortable life in the province) in Davao Region. 

The BP² Program Special Committee is a special committee under the Regional Development Council XI, the BP² Council counterpart in Davao Region.   While the Cabinet Secretary for Regional Development and Security for Davao Region (CORDS) 11 and Chairperson of the Committee is currently vacant following the resignation of former DBM Secretary Wendel E. Avisado, RDC XI Vice-Chairperson and NEDA XI Regional Director Maria Lourdes D. Lim, CESO II presided over the Committee’s 3rd quarter regular meeting.

-Ruth C. Lasquite, NEDA XI