(Davao City, 27 September 2022). The Regional Development Council (RDC) XI commemorated the RDC Week this year, recognized key partners in the peace and security sector, and designated its Special Non-Voting Members for the Term 2022-2025 during the Council’s CY 2022 Third Quarter Full Council Meeting on September 27, 2022 at the NEDA-RDC XI Center, Km. 7, Bangkal, Davao City
In line with the commemoration of the RDC Week every fourth week of September pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1164, s. 1998, the RDC XI celebrated its milestone with this year’s theme “RDC XI: Shepherding Davao Region’s Economic Transformation towards Prosperous, Inclusive, and Resilient Local Communities”, featuring an audio-visual presentation. Among the highlights of the said audio-visual presentation was the presentation of the RDC XI milestones through the years and the video testimonials of the Council’s key stakeholder groups, highlighting their prior and prospective major engagements with the RDC XI.
The Council proceeded in awarding plaques of commendation to the Eastern Mindanao Command – Armed Forces of the Philippines (EMC-AFP) and the 10th Infantry (Agila) Division – Philippine Army (10ID-PA). The RDC XI, through its Special Committee, Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) XI, has recognized the invaluable support and contribution of the EMC-AFP and the 10ID-PA to the Committee’s project monitoring activities, as well as, in ensuring peace and security in the implementation of government projects in Davao Region, resulting to the decrease in government projects reported with peace and order issues. Acting RDC XI Chairperson and NEDA XI Dir. Maria Lourdes D. Lim awarded the plaques of commendation to Lt.Gen. Greg T Almerol, Commander of the Eastern Mindanao Command-Armed Forces and MGen. Nolasco A. Mempin, Commander of the 10ID-PA, respectively. Lt.Gen. Almerol, in his acceptance speech, expressed his gratitude to the RDC XI for recognizing the efforts of the peace and security sector. He underscored the AFP’s highly successful campaign in freeing Davao Region from insurgency and the goal of clearing all barangays of CPP-NPA-NDF affectation before CY 2022 ends.
He also mentioned that at present, Davao Region has attained almost zero guerilla front, hence, the EMC-AFP is ready to declare Davao Region as insurgency free, the 2nd region in the Philippines to be declared free from insurgencies in the next few weeks.
Moreover, the Council designated its new set of Special Non-Voting Members (SNVMs) for the RDC XI for the Term 2022-2025 as follows: Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) XI; National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) XI; National Housing Authority (NHA) XI; Philippine Information Agency (PIA) XI; PNP-Police Regional Office 11; 10th Infantry Division-Philippine Army; Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) XI; Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP); the University of the Philippines Mindanao; Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PHIC); Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc. (DCCCII); ICT Davao, Inc.; and KAPWA Upliftment Foundation. Executive Order No. 325, series of 1996, as amended, provides that Regional Development Councils (RDCs) may select SNVMs in addition to their regular voting members. Such privilege on membership expansion, though on a non-voting capacity, is for the purpose of allowing the RDC to respond to the unique needs of the region. The representation of certain organizations or individuals other than the regular members to address major development concerns in the region is deemed essential. Thus, considering the role of SNVMs in providing relevant inputs to the RDC XI in coming up with policy recommendations, the Council, through its Sectoral Committee had carefully selected its SNVMs to ensure that such representation is fully substantiated.
– RDC XI Secretariat