(Davao City, 1 December 2023) – The Regional Development Council (RDC) XI, in collaboration with the Provincial Local Government Unit of Davao Occidental, organized the 1^st Roadshow for the Davao Regional Development Plan, 2023-2028 on December 1, 2023 at the Blue Lotus Hotel, Davao City.  The activity was also livestreamed via the NEDA XI and RDC XI official Facebook accounts. The roadshow is among the DRDP communication and advocacy activities aimed at promoting sense of ownership and understanding of the Plan. The 1^st roadshow is meant for development partners under the South Cluster of Davao Region, consisting of the provinces of Davao Occidental, Davao del Sur, and the City of Davao.

Chief of Staff Marilou E. Borra delivered the opening message in behalf of Honorable Governor Atty. Franklin P. Bautista. She extended her gratitude to the RDC XI for making Davao Occidental its partner for the South Cluster leg of the DRDP Roadshow, and further thanked all local chief executives and development partners from the South Cluster for supporting the DRDP implementation. RDC XI Acting Chairperson Arturo M. Milan also thanked all participants for supporting the Roadshow as an affirmative action that supports the successful Plan implementation throughout Davao Region.

RDC XI Vice-Chairperson and NEDA XI Regional Director Maria Lourdes D. Lim, CESO II, presented the salient features of the DRDP, including the roles of LGUs in support of national and regional development plan implementation. “LGUs have a crucial role in cascading the regional priorities in the DRDP to Provincial, Municipal and Barangay Development and Physical Framework Plans”, RD Lim said.

Several developments partners from the government and basic sectors were also invited to present their respective priority policies and programs, activities, and projects (PAPs) in support of the DRDP implementation. Present as discussants were representatives from the Southern Davao Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Rural Workers of Malita Cooperative, Southern Philippines Agri-Business and Marine and Aquatic School of Technology, Davao del Sur State College, and the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. An open forum followed, with the RDC XI Secretariat as moderator. The winner for the DRDP Photojournalism Contest was also announced during the South Cluster Roadshow, which was awarded to Mr. Axcell Rey E. Olivo from the Province of Davao Occidental.

The South Cluster DRDP Roadshow was attended by members of the provincial/city development councils, representatives of regional and provincial implementing units of government agencies, and members of the RDC XI’s Communication for Development Network (C4DNet). The DRDP North Cluster Roadshow is scheduled to be conducted within the 1^st Semester of 2024.

 

Laurence Gido, NEDA XI
Photo by PLGU Davao Occidental