Davao City, December 12, 2022 – The Metropolitan Davao Development Coordinating Committee (MDDCC) convened for its 4^th quarter CY 2022 meeting on December 12, 2022, via hybrid set-up at the NEDA-RDC XI Center, Davao City. RDC XI Vice-Chairperson and NEDA XI Regional Director Maria Lourdes D. Lim presided over this meeting. In attendance via Zoom were the Honorable House Deputy Speaker and Davao City 3rd District Representative, Isidro Ungab, and Assistant Secretary, Achilles Gerard C. Bravo of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The year 2022 has been a game-changer for this Committee, with a number of achievements recorded towards establishing the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA), with the enactment of the RA 11708 or the MDDA Act of 2022, drafting of the IRR and proposed budget for FY 2022-2023 including its staffing pattern. Cong. Ungab thanked the Committee’s efforts in the progress of the MDDA Act implementation. He also mentioned the support of Vice President Sarah Duterte, the former MDDCC Chairperson, and Senate President Miguel Zubiri in pursuing the approval of the IRR of the MDDA Act by the Office of the President.

On the proposed staffing pattern and budget of the MDDA, DBM ASec. Bravo updated the Committee on DBM’s initial evaluation which shall be submitted to the Office of the President, for  confirmation. The same shall be endorsed back to the DBM for the issuance of the Unified Access Code System (UACS) for the MDDA budgeting, accounting and auditing purposes and the Notice of Organization Staff Compensation Action (NOSCA) for the MDDA staffing refinement.

Updates on the formulation of the Metropolitan Davao Public Safety and Security Master Plan (MDPSSMP) and its proposal for a Benchmarking activity of its TWG to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) was presented by Mr. Antonio Boquiren of the Davao City Public Safety and Security Office. The benchmarking activity aims to equip the TWG members with learnings on the MMDA’s organization and operations for public safety, law & order, and security matters.

The Committee further discussed the status of the establishment of the Metropolitan Davao Police District (MDPD) by virtue of RA 11708, the updates on which were presented by PCol. Epe Rillo of the PRO XI. On November 14, 2022, Chief PNP PGen. Rodolfo Azurin, Jr. endorsed to the NAPOLCOM the proposal to activate the MDPD which shall be placed under the administrative supervision and operational control of the PRO XI Regional Director.

ARD Gilberto A. Altura also updated the Committee on the JICA-NEDA XI Technical Cooperation Project (TCP) on the Formulation of a Comprehensive and Sustainable Urban Development Master Plan. A Preparatory Mission was deployed by the JICA Tokyo Headquarters and conducted several meetings and consultations with NEDA XI, LGUs of the MDDA, and key National Government Agencies on November 17-29 and December 1-2, 2022 to conduct a preliminary survey and discuss the scope and objectives of the proposed master plan.

On December 9, 2022, JICA and NEDA XI conducted a ceremonial signing of the Record of Discussion and Minutes of Meeting agreed between JICA Philippines Office and NEDA XI, as the TCP implementing office. The Committee approved and endorsed to the RDC XI the creation of the Project Steering Committee and its Technical Working Group.  The Committee likewise endorsed, for RDC XI approval, the designation of NEDA XI Regional Director Maria Lourdes D. Lim as Chairperson of the MDDCC which serves as interim body for the Metropolitan Davao Development Council.

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Anna Rosalie G. Arsa, NEDA XI