(Davao City, 20 September 2022). The Infrastructure Development Committee (IDC) XI convened for its 3rd Quarter CY 2022 Regular Meeting on 20 September 2022 at the NEDA-RDC XI Convention Center, SPED Area, Bangkal, Davao City.

In his opening message, the IDC XI Chairperson and Regional Development Council (RDC) XI Private Sector Representative (PSR), Mr. Ricardo F. Lagdameo, expressed his gratitude and optimism on his appointment as IDC XI Chairperson during the RDC XI’s Reorganization Meeting on 12 August 2022. He thanked everyone for the opportunity to serve Davao Region in this capacity whilst looking forward to working with the RDC XI and the IDC XI in contributing to the development of Davao Region in the years to come.

The meeting started with the Reorganization of the IDC XI for the Term 2022-2025, specifically on its membership. For the current term, the proposed IDC XI membership consists of 23 Regional Line Agencies, 11 City/Provincial Planning and Development Coordinators, 6 RDC XI Private Sector Representatives and 6 private sector organizations. The Committee also agreed to designate one of its female members as its representative to the Regional Gender and Development Committee (RGADC) XI for the Term 2022-2025 in the person of Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) XI Regional Director Evamay C. Dela Rosa. Moreover, the Committee nominated ICT Davao as one of the Special Non-Voting Members of the RDC XI, in addition to the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) XI, National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) XI and National Housing Authority (NHA) XI who were designated SNVMs in the previous term 2019-2022 and consequently re-endorsed for the current term.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) then presented the highlights of the Final Report of Master Plan and Feasibility Study on Flood Control and Drainage in Davao City. The Committee requested the DPWH to provide the RDC XI with its proposed Programs, Activities and Projects (PAPs) as reference during the crafting of the Successor Davao Regional Development Plan (DRDP), 2023-2028.

The Committee also reviewed the Region’s infrastructure sector performance for the 2nd Quarter CY 2022 through the DRDP Results Matrices Progress Report on the Achievement of Outcomes for the Infrastructure Sector (Chapters 12 & 19). In summary, of the 3 indicators for Chapter 12 with substantial updates, 2 are on track to achieving its targets while the indicator on production of economic and socialized housing units is falling below its targeted performance for the period. For Chapter 19, out of the 58 indicators with substantial updates, 28 were not on track to achieving the annual 2022 targets, while 36 were on-track or exceeded targets. For all indicators falling below target, implementing agencies need to devise and undertake their catch-up plans in order to improve their performances in the succeeding quarters and achieve their annual 2022 targets.

The Committee was also provided with an update from the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) on the Turn-over of Port Operations of the Sasa Port to the Joint Venture between GlobalPort Terminals Inc. (GTI and Global Port Ozamiz under PPA’s Port Terminal Management Regulatory Framework (PTMRF). The Committee requested PPA to provide a copy of the Risk Management Matrix for this undertaking, for its reference. Likewise, PPA was requested to review the proposed tariff rates as this would contribute to the inflation especially on food prices and invite the consortium to present its development plans for the Sasa Port during the 4th Quarter 2022 Regular Meeting of the Committee.

Moreover, the IDC XI members were apprised of implementation updates on major infrastructures projects in Davao Region, to wit: the Mindanao Railway Project (MRP) Tagum-Davao-Digos Segment and the High Priority Bus System (HPBS) from the Project Management Offices (PMOs) of the Department of Transportation (DoTr), as well as, the Davao City Bypass Construction Project (DCBCP) and Samal Island-Davao Connector (SIDC) from the DPWH – Unified Project Management Office (DPWH-UPMO).

The MRP-PMO reported that its Right-of-Way Site Acquisition activities are still on-going particularly the issuance of the Notices of Taking by the concerned LGUs with Tagum City at 100%, Municipality of Carmen at 89.54%, Panabo City at 98.19%, Davao City at 89.46%, Municipality of Sta. Cruz at 96.34% and Digos City at 96.05%. As reported, DOTr is currently working to renegotiate its loan application due to the change in administration on the side of the Philippine Government.

On the HPBS, the PMO informed of several activities it is currently undertaking, viz:

  • On-going review of Bid Evaluation Report for Civil Works Contract Packages 1, 2 and 3 by DoTr and PS-DBM;
  • On-going processing of payments for the first batch of landowners;
  • On-going coordination with City Planning and Development Office of Davao City and NHA XI on provision of housing units for affected Informal Settler Families;
  • On-going coordination with SM Malls and Dakudao Corporation for request for space provision for the opportunity charging station in SM Lanang;
  • Ongoing posting of bids for Contract Package 5 -Diesel Bus Fleets and Contract Package 6-E-bus fleet procurement; and
  • Ongoing review of the proposed changes in scope, increase in cost, and changes in timelines in the NEDA-ICC Secretariat

For both the MRP-TDD and the HPBS, the Committee passed resolutions urging the DoTr and other concerned government entities to prioritize and provide funding these priority projects of Davao Region.

The DPWH-UPMO, on the other hand, updated the Committee on the DCBCP’s on-going tunnel excavation at the North and South Portals for Package I-1 with an overall accomplishment of 16.39%. As of August 31, 2022, tunnel excavation at the North Portal is now at 202.7 meters for its northbound tunnel and 196.7 meters for its southbound tunnel. Meanwhile, tunnel excavation at the South Portal is now at 126 meters for its northbound tunnel and 88 meters for its southbound tunnel.

On the SIDC, the DPWH-UPMO reported that the Notice to Proceed (NTP) issued by DPWH through a letter dated August 19, 2022 was officially received by the Contractor, China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), on September 01, 2022. The Project, which has an implementation period of 60 months is targeted to be completed by September 2027. The CRBC already mobilized on-site and currently conducting the Geotechnical Investigations in the vicinity of the Pakiputan Strait. The Preliminary Engineering Design (PED) was already submitted by CRBC and is currently undergoing review for approval by the DPWH Bureau of Design (BOD).

Moving forward, the Committee shall continue to closely monitor the Davao Region’s performance under the infrastructure sector, as well as, implementation of these crucial infrastructure projects in the Region, especially those identified under the present Administration’s Build, Build, Build (BBB) Program.

Emil B. Clarito, NEDA XI