Davao City—The Regional Special Committee on Culture, Heritage, and Arts or RSCCHA, a special committee under the Davao Regional Development Council (RDC XI), convened for its 1st semester meeting on May 16, 2024.  

Items discussed include the major thrusts of the Davao Regional Development Plan 2023-2028; the Cultural Mapping Program, which shall highlight the importance of mapping cultural assets and resources to support informed decision-making and sustainable development; and updates on the Department of Tourism’s major programs, particularly in the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions or the MICE sector, showcasing Davao Region as a premier tourism hub. 

Also discussed are DepEd XI’s updates on the Heritage School Buildings, Schools of Living Tradition, and other initiatives aimed at preserving and promoting our cultural heritage through education and the RSCCHA XI’s workshop to formulate its 10-Year Roadmap.  

The RSCCHA is a regional policy-making body in Davao Region that shall formulate enabling policies on preserving, conserving, and promoting the region’s culture, heritage, and the arts and to maximize its full socioeconomic development potential to achieve sustainable and inclusive development for the Region and for the Philippines. 

-Meg Badilles-Manayan, NEDA XI