(Seda Abreeza Hotel, Davao City). The RDC XI Advisory Committee conducted its CY 2023 First Semester Meeting on May 4, 2023 at Seda Abreeza Hotel, Davao City and via Zoom platform. The meeting was presided over by RDC XI Chairperson and Davao Oriental Governor Corazon Malanyaon. The RDC XI AdCom is comprised of the Members of the House of Representatives in Davao Region, the RDC XI Executive Committee (ExCom), and Senators Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go as special members.
Present during the meeting were Davao Region Congresspersons, namely: Congressman John Tracy Cagas of the lone district of Davao del Sur and Congressman Ruwel Peter Gonzaga of the 2nd district of Davao de Oro together with Wilfrido Villarica, Mary Ann Cheng, Eisen Concepcion, and Board Member Rotchie Ravelo, representing Cong. Paolo Duterte of the 1st district of Davao City, Cong. Alan Dujali of the 2nd district of Davao del Norte, Cong. Maria Carmen Zamora of the 1st district of Davao de Oro and Cong. Cheeno Miguel Almario of the 2nd district of Davao Oriental, respectively; the RDC XI Executive Committee (ExCom) members; and Jayson Estrada, representing the Office of Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go. Also in attendance were the invited guests from national agencies namely: DBM XI Director Gary Martel; DSWD XI Director Vanessa Goc-ong; DA XI Director Abel James Monteagudo; ARD Joselito Caballero, representing DPWH XI OIC Juby Cordon; Marilyn B. Madrazo (Chief of DepEd XI Policy Planning and Research Division), representing DepEd XI Director Allan Farnazo; Antonio Erwin R. Aranaz (DPWH-UPMO Project Manager I), representing DPWH Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan; and Gina Zapata (DOTr Rail Transport Planning OIC), representing DOTr Secretary Jaime J. Bautista.
Among the substantive matters tackled during the said meeting include the key highlights and legislative agenda contained in the Davao Regional Development Plan (DRDP), 2023-2028, and the status of inclusion of RDC XI-endorsed budget proposals in the FY 2023 General Appropriations Act (GAA) and summary of RDC XI-endorsed FY 2024 Budget Proposals for Davao Region. Also discussed during the meeting was the issue raised by Cong. Gonzaga on consumer dissatisfaction with the current electricity provider in the Province of Davao de Oro. Said issue concerning the same electricity provider in Davao del Norte was also raised by Gov. Edwin Jubahib during the First Quarter CY 2023 RDC XI Full Council Meeting on March 24, 2023, in Mati City, Davao Oriental. As a result, the RDC XI AdCom passed a resolution supporting the Congressional review of the franchise of the electricity provider in Davao de Oro, in view of expressed dissatisfaction, and the possible issuance of a new franchise in the entire Province.
Davao Region Congresspersons manifested their support in pursuing the priority legislative agenda of the Plan in Congress, including lobbying for the funding of major priority programs and projects of Davao Region which are vital in the implementation of the DRDP, 2023-2028, in order to achieve the Plan’s medium-term goal of an accelerated transformation to a more progressive, broad-based, and strong Davao Region.
