Regional Development Updates | Vol 15 Issue 3 | July - September 2017

Editor-in-Chief
RD ARTURO G. VALERO
Associate Editor
ARD NOEL E. QUIRATMAN
Contributing Editors
JULIE ESPERANZA B. CHUNG
MARIA FELICIDAD R. GUERRERO
MA. LULU E. VALENCIA
JULIET G. BOLANDO
GUILLERMO R. MANRIQUE, JR.
RDU Focal Persons
LALAINE M. SAJELAN
LIBERTY B. ARUMPAC
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
EVIE A. CABULANAN
GWYNETH GRACE B. COLLADO
JUDD NICHOL L. LEONAR
Photographer
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
Layout Artist
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
Contributors
PSA XII
FRUTTO C. SUMAGAYSAY, JR.
DONNA MAHUSAY
EDITORIAL BOARD
The Regional Development Updates
(RDU) is published quarterly by the Regional
Development Council (RDC) XII with
editorial office at the National Economic and
Development Authority Regional Office XII,
PrimeRegionalGovernmentCenter,Carpenter
Hill, Koronadal City, South Cotabato,
with Telephone No.: (083) 228-9203,
Fax: (083) 228-9203. The Editorial Board
reserves the right to edit the manuscript for
reasons of space and clarity. RDU assumes no
responsibility on unpublished and unsolicited
materials.
HOW TO REACH US
Do you have questions, comments or
suggestions? Send your letters with complete
name and address to our editorial office
mentioned above, or email us at nedaxii@
gmail.com.
CONTENTS
RDC XII conducts 59th
Meeting, briefs
members on Marawi crisis
SOCCSKSARGEN Region
celebrates RDC Week
6 individuals, 1 organization made
it as Region XII Outstanding
Volunteers
On our cover is the collage of
activities conducted during the
RDC Week celebration in Region
XII, namely, tree growing activity
at Police Provincial Office in
Kawas, Alabel Sarangani, 3DOE
ecopark visit, the RDC Night
which was hosted by the City
Government of General Santos,
the Council parade, Chumba,
Volleyball games, and Basketball
Games.
33
Understanding Budayaw Festivals of
Cultures
RDC XII to host the 9th
National PSR
Convention in 2018
SOCCSKSARGEN Region supports
PDP, 2017-2022
Volume 15 | Issue No. 3 | July - September 2017
NNC XII Spearheads the 43rd
Nutrition
Month Celebration
44
66
88
99
1111
2 | Regional Development Updates | July - September 2017
1010
RDC XII confirms the membership of
IPMR as SNVM
55

July -September 2017 | Regional Development Updates | 3
General Santos City –
Presidential Proclamation No.
1164, issued on February
28, 1998 declared every
4th week of September
every year as RDC Week to
commemorate the birth of the
RDCs as the key structure
for regional planning and for
integrated local planning and
programming.
The SOCCSKSARGEN
Region celebrated RDC
Week on September 27-28,
2017 in Sarangani Province
and General Santos City.
The two-day activity started
on September 27, with a
motorcade from Koronadal
City to Sarangani Province
for the tree planting and farm
tourism visit.
The tree planting at the
Provincial Police Office in
Kawas, Alabel, Sarangani
sustained the Council’s
campaign to maintain a clean
and green environment.
Regional Development Council
(RDC) XII Vice-Chairperson
and National Economic
and Development Authority
(NEDA) XII Regional Director
(RD) Arturo G. Valero thanked
the Sarangani Provincial
Police Office and Provincial
Environment and Natural
Resources Office (PENRO)
for providing the venue and
seedlings, respectively, for
the tree planting activity
as part of the celebration.
PSSupt Joseph P. Semillano,
Provincial Director of
Sarangani Police Provincial
Office (SPPO) assured the
Council members that all the
700 planted seedlings will be
taken care of by the Sarangani
PPO and thanked the RDC
XII for choosing Sarangani as
beneficiary of the tree planting
activity.
The Council proceeded to the
3DOE Ecopark as support
to the new strategy in the
Regional Development Plan
2017-2022 by visiting farm
and herbal tourism sites and
positively campaigning for
Republic Act 10816 – The
Farm Tourism Development
Act of 2016.
The Council members
converged for the RDC XII
night to end the first day.
The RDC XII night was
graciously hosted by the
City Government of General
Santos at the Family Country
Hotel and Convention Centre,
with the theme: RDC XII Do
the Move, Sing and Groove
Night. The attire for the said
night was inspired by Tri-
people costumes of the region
in support of the Budayaw
Festival.
The second day opened with
a parade around the General
Santos City Oval plaza, and
was followed by Chumba and
friendly games consisting
of Volleyball (women) and
Basketball (men) as part of the
advocacy to a healthy lifestyle.
The exercises and games
are expected to strengthen
partnership and camaraderie
among members to enhance
the Council in carrying out its
mandated functions.
The Regional Social
SOCCSKSARGEN ... page 5
The SOCCSKSARGEN Region celebrated RDC Week with tree planting activity at the
Provincial Police Office, Kawas, Alabel, Sarangani, and ball games at the General
Santos City Oval Gymnasium on September 27-28, 2017.
SOCCSKSARGEN Region celebrates RDC Week
By: Apollo Y. Manlawe, NEDA XII

City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato – The Regional
Development Council (RDC)
XII conducted its 59th
regular
meeting on September 19,
2017, with RDC XII Chairman
and General Santos City
Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera
presiding which was graced
by the Undersecretary for
Defense Operations of the
Department of National
Defense (DND), and who is
concurrently the Executive
Secretary of Task Force
Bangon Marawi, Cesar B.
Yano.
USec. Yano briefed the
Council members on the
Marawi City crisis and
Administrative Order (AO) No.
3, Series of 2017 which was
issued on 28 June 2017 to
create the Task Force Bangon
Marawi (TFBM), with the
Secretary of National Defense
as Chairperson, Secretary of
Public Works and Highways
as Vice-Chairperson, and
21 heads of other agencies
as members. The main
By: Apollo Y. Manlawe, NEDA XII-DRD
responsibility of the Task Force
is the recovery, reconstruction
and rehabilitation of Marawi
City and other areas affected
by the Marawi crisis.
Under the TFBM, five (5)
sub-committees were created
based on AO No. 3, which
are: (1) Sub-Committee on
Reconstruction – headed by
DPWH; (2) Sub-Committee
on Housing – headed by
the Office of the Cabinet
Secretary; (3) Sub-Committee
on Health and Social Welfare
– co-headed by DOH and
DSWD; (4) Sub-Committee
on Business and Livelihood
– headed by DTI; and (5)
Sub-Committee on Peace and
Order – headed by DILG.
USec. Yano informed the
Council that there are around
79,000 affected families being
assisted by the government.
About 10 – 15% of these
families are in the evacuation
centers, while others are
staying with their relatives or
host families.
Aside from the briefing on the
Marawi Crisis, the Council
also awarded Plaques of
Recognition to seven (7)
regional nominees of 2017
Search for Outstanding
Volunteers (SOV) of Region
XII. Of the nominees, five
(5) are for Individual Adult
Category, one (1) for Non-
Profit Organization, and
one (1) for Individual Youth
Category. These nominees
will represent the region in the
2017 SOV national selection.
Plaques of appreciation
were also awarded to two (2)
Regional Social Development
Committee (RSDC) XII
Secretariat members (NEDA
XII employees), Ms. Rosa D.
Lemana and Ms. Helen L.
Vestal, who recently retired
from government service.
RDC XII passed a total of 27
resolutions which included the
request for the restoration of
the budgets of the Commission
on Human Rights XII and
the National Commission on
Indigenous Peoples XII.
RDC XII conducts 59th
Meeting, briefs
members on Marawi crisis
Undersecretary for Defense Operations of DND and concurrent Executive Secretary of Task Force Bangon Marawi, Cesar B. Yano
briefed the Council members on the Marawi crisis and Administrative Order No. 3, Series of 2017 during the 59th
RDC XII Meeting
on September 19, 2017 in Koronadal City.

July - September 2017 | Regional Development Updates | 5
Development Committee
(RSDC) was declared
champion in Volleyball, while
the Infrastructure and Utilities
SOCCSKSARGEN ... from page 3
(InfraCom) was the winner in
basketball.
“RDC Week celebration
RDC XII confirms the membership
of IPMR as SNVM
Cotabato – The Regional
Development Council (RDC)
XII confirmed the membership
of the Indigenous Peoples
Mandatory Representative
(IPMR) as Special Non-Voting
Member during the 59th
RDC
XII Full Council Meeting
on September 19, 2017 in
Koronadal City.
The membership of IPs
through a mandatory
representative was endorsed
by the Regional Social
(RSDC) XII after thorough
discussions and upon strong
recommendation of Mr. Joey
L. Bogay of the National
Commission on Indigenous
Peoples (NCIP) XII during
its 3rd
Quarter Meeting in
Koronadal City on September
5, 2017.
Mr. Bogay informed the RSDC
on the interest of the IPs to be
part of the Committee and the
Council pursuant to Section 16
of RA 8371 (IPRA Law) which
states that, Indigenous Cultural
Communities/Indigenous
Peoples (ICCs/IPs) have the
right to participate fully, if they
so choose, at all levels of
decision-making on matters
which may affect their rights,
lives and destinies through
procedures determined by
them, as well as to maintain
and develop their own
indigenous political structures.
It was stated further that
the State shall ensure that
the ICCs/IPs shall be given
mandatory representation in
policy-making bodies and other
local legislative councils.
According to RD Timuey Lim
P. Wong of NCIP XII, the
mandatory representative
of IPs is Fulung Edgar A.
Sambog.
As stated in EO 325, Series
of 1996, the RDC, subject to
the concurrence of majority
of its regular members, may
designate special non-voting
members of the council.
strengthened the bonding
between and among RDC XII
members,” said RDC XII Vice-
Chairperson and NEDA XII RD
Valero as he closed the 2-day
celebration. He further stated
that it should be continued to
give members a chance to
engage in sports competition
and re-energize their bodies
and minds. For next year’s
celebration, he challenged the
city government of Cotabato to
be the host.
The Regional Social Development
Committee Volleyball team during the
RDC Week celebration.

SOCCSKSARGEN Region
Supports PDP, 2017-2022
Cotabato – “For our region,
we commit to put our best
efforts and take our roles
and responsibilities in the
successful implementation of
the Philippine Development
Plan (PDP), 2017-2022,”
says Regional Development
Council (RDC) XII Chairperson
and General Santos City
Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera in
his opening message during
the Aksyon para sa AmBisyon
PDP 2017-2022 Forum at
The Farm @ Carpenter Hill,
Koronadal City on July 11,
2017.
Chairperson Rivera continued
that from this day onward, he
is hopeful that everyone who
attended the activity is one
with the government in the
achievement of the PDP 2017-
2022, and in the attainment of
AmBisyon Natin 2040.
The PDP, 2017-2022 is
anchored on the President’s
0-10 point socioeconomic
agenda and the 2030 Agenda
for Sustainable Development,
and is geared toward the
realization of the long-term
vision entitled AmBisyon Natin
2040.
ASec. Sombilla concluded her
keynote message by quoting
Socioeconomic Planning
Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia’s
opening remarks during the
PDP 2017-2022 Launching on
June 2, 2017, that “We already
have the goal, now here’s
the plan. The time has come
to turn AmBisyon Natin 2040
into reality. Kaya tayo na’t
umaksyon para sa ambisyon!”
An open forum then ensued
which was moderated by PIA
XII Assistant Regional Director
(ARD) Danilo Doguiles. Nine
Video presentations of the
AmBisyon Natin 2040 and
PDP, 2017-2022 were shown,
as well as the highlights
of the SOCCSKSARGEN
Regional Development Plan
(RDP) rendered by RDC XII
Vice-Chairperson and NEDA
XII Regional Director Arturo
G. Valero during the said
forum. Like the PDP, the
SOCCSKSARGEN RDP also
has 21 chapters and anchored
on the three (3) pillars of
the Duterte Administraton
– Malasakit, Pagbabago, at
Patuloy na Pag-unlad.
In her keynote message,
NEDA Assistant Secretary
(ASec.) Mercedita A. Sombilla
congratulated everyone in
attendance and for coming up
with an RDP that complements
and supports the strategies of
the PDP, 2017-2022.
NEDA Assistant Secretary Mercedita A. Sombilla congratulated everyone in attendance during the Aksyon para sa AmBisyon PDP
2017-2022 Forum at The Farm @ Carpenter Hill, Koronadal City on July 11, 2017.

(9) questions were raised by
various stakeholders who
attended the forum. One of the
questions raised was regarding
the plight of Overseas Filipino
Workers who have returned
but could not find a job or work
to sustain their family needs.
ASec. Sombilla replied that
one of the chapters of the plan
is about reducing vulnerability
of individuals and families and
that the government is geared
towards coming up with a
program that all households
shall benefit to reduce poverty
and promote inclusive growth.
Academe representative
Brother Wilfredo E. Lubrico,
FMS, President of Notre Dame
of Marbel University; Business
Sector representative Mr.
Mario Cacabelos, Regional
Governor of Greater Midsayap
Chamber of Commerce
and Industry, Inc.; Youth
sector representative John
Oliver M. Tablazon, 2016
Search for Outstanding
Volunteer-Youth Awardee;
Basic sector representative
Ms. Jovita Felongco; and
Local Government Units
representative South Cotabato
Vice Governor Vicente R.
de Jesus, also gave their
commitments of support in
the achievement of the PDP
and RDP, 2017-2022 and in
the attainment of a standard
of living encapsulated by the
phrase: “matatag, maginhawa
at panatag na buhay.”
The activity was capped by
the closing message of Vice
Governor de Jesus who
thanked everyone for coming
to South Cotabato and for the
commitment expressed by the
representatives of different
sectors.
The forum was attended by
250 people from the business,
basic, religious, and youth
sectors together with the
Local Government Units,
Regional Line Agencies,
academe, and the local
media. It aims to increase
awareness and influence
the SOCCSKSARGEN
stakeholder’s paradigm in
designing socioeconomic
programs and activities toward
the achievement of the plan
and the attainment of the
hopes and aspirations of
Filipinos.

City of Koronadal,
South Cotabato - The
Six (6) individuals and
one (1) organization in
SOCCSKSARGEN region
made it as regional winners
in the Search for Outstanding
Volunteers 2017, the Provincial
Environment Management
Office (PEMO) disclosed.
Forester Mary Jane Manlisis,
chief of PEMO – Forest &
Inland Water Management
Division said the lone
organization that made it in the
search under the Organization/
Non-Profit category in the
province is the Association
of South Cotabato Earth
Savers (ASCES) or also
known as Earth Savers with its
domicile located in Tampakan
municipality.
Earth Savers, formerly called
Deputized Environment and
Natural Resources Officers
(DENROs), has been a
partner of PEMO since 2010.
It started with 44 members but
later grew to 450 members
distributed in 9 towns and
the Koronadal City of South
Cotabato.
It was organized to establish
support groups in the various
municipalities of South
Cotabato to help implement
environmentally-related
programs or/projects and
assists in the sustainable
conservation and protection of
the remaining forest resources
within their area of jurisdiction.
Forester Manlisis added that
aside from Earth Savers,
2 individuals from South
Cotabato made it as regional
winners under the Individual/
Adult category, namely; Junelia
Domel of Tantangan and
Regalado Bantilan of T’boli.
The other winners from the
region are Fulung Dan Alim
of General Santos City,
Agbay Bautista of Maitum
Sarangani, and Norma Adamat
of Kidapawan City, Cotabato
6 individuals, 1 organization made it
as Region 12 Outstanding Volunteers
under the Individual/Adult
category and Juwahdi Salik of
Cotabato City under the Youth
category.
The Regional Development
Council XII awarded the said
individuals and organization
plaques of recognition
during its regular meeting
on September 19, 2017 in
Koronadal City.
The Philippine National
Volunteer Service Coordinating
Agency (PNVSCA) spearheads
the search in partnership with
the National Economic and
Development Authority (NEDA)
as Secretariat and other
national line agencies.
Conferment of awards will
be in December this year,
according to PNVSCA, which
is celebrated as the National
Volunteers Month.
By: Fruto C. Sumagaysay, Jr., South Cotabato Provincial Information Office
The regional winners of 2017
Search for Outstanding Volunteers,
Ms. Norma Adamat, Mr. Agbay
Bautista, Fulung Dan Alim, Mr.
Regalado Bantilan, Ms. Junelia
Domel, Mr. Juwahdi Salik., and
representatives from Association
of South Cotabato Earth Savers
(ASCES).

General Santos City - The 1st
Budayaw Festival celebrates
harmony in diversity with the
theme “Taking Pride in the
creative diversity of the BIMP-
EAGA region.”
The name Budayaw is derived
from the Malay word budaya
meaning culture and the
Filipino word dayaw, meaning
celebration.
The event also commemorates
the 50th
founding anniversary
of the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Brunei Darussalam-
Indonesia-Malaysia-the
Philippines East ASEAN
Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA)
is a sub-regional economic
cooperation designed to spur
economic development in the
lagging sub-economies of
member countries.
Cultural masters and artists
from the BIMP-EAGA
converged in the festival
staged in Gensan malls last
September 20-24, 2017, which
showcased the culture and
the arts and celebrated the
creative diversity of the region.
There were also Budayaw
community outreach activities
in Maitum, Malungon and
Alabel, Sarangani Province.
There are five strategic
pillars that BIMP-EAGA
focuses with the end goal of
narrowing the development
Understanding Budayaw
Festival of Cultures
By: Donna Mahusay, Sarangani Information Office
gaps among member
countries which are; (i)
connectivity which works
with the improvements
on technology and
transport connectivity,
(ii) food basket that
optimize the potential
products to export, (iii)
environment that aims
to protect and manage
the natural resources
The colloquium was mainly
participated in by teachers and
students from various schools
who are among the target
audiences for the event.
“In fact, we asked the teachers
and students to attend the
Colloquium so that they would
begin to be conscious about
the importance of putting this
inputs here, the history of the
EAGA, our relationships with
them, and our exchanges with
them,” Suemith said. “In the
classroom, they can also use
what they have learned so
they can build awareness and
appreciation of our identity
here in the region.”
The Budayaw Festival
was by far successful
with the partnership of the
Department of Tourism,
NCCA, Autonomous Region in
Muslim Mindanao, Mindanao
Development Authority, LGU
Sarangani, LGU General
Santos City, and Mindanao
State University.
and biodiversity, (iv) tourism
that develops products and
tourism-related infrastructure
to market BIMP-EAGA tourism
destinations, and (v) socio-
cultural and education which
opens the mind of the people
about the member countries’
traditions.
On the third day of the
Budayaw Festival, there was
a colloquium held at KCC
Convention Hall.
“In 2016, the socio-cultural
development working group
agreed to have a colloquium
on the three things or topics
which are: the history of the
islands of the EAGA Region
and the cultural exchanges,
second is how do we
safeguard our heritage here
in the EAGA Region, and third
is what could be the policies
and possible exchanges to
continue the relationship,”
said Adel Suemith from
the Philippines National
Commission for Culture and
the Arts (NCCA), head of the
BIMP-EAGA socio-cultural
pillar.

Cotabato – SOCCSKSARGEN
Region has been formally
selected as the host of
the 2018 National Private
Sector Representative (PSR)
Convention during the 8th
National PSR Convention held
on June 21-23, 2017 in Bohol.
The PSR Convention is
an annual gathering of all
Regional Development Council
(RDC) PSRs, which aims to
continuously foster stronger
partnership between and
among the Private Sector,
the Government, and other
stakeholders toward achieving
greater heights in economic
development.
Yearly, each region of the
Philippine island groups is
given the chance to host the
said event to showcase and
promote their development
initiatives, rich cultures and
tourism potentials. As the 2017
National PSR convention host,
the RDC/NEDA VII showcased
the well-known tourism areas
of Central Visayas Region,
particularly the Panglao
beaches in the island of Bohol.
During this year’s convention,
various topics and discussions
along the theme: “Defining the
AmBisyon Natin 2040 Vision”
were presented, which was
highlighted by the Keynote
Message and presentation
of the AmBisyon Natin 2040
and Philippine Development
Plan (PDP) 2017-2022 by
the Socioeconomic Planning
Secretary, Ernesto M. Pernia.
Open forums and break-out
sessions were also organized
to provide opportunities
for the PSRs to share and
discuss their best practices/
experiences in pursuing
economic development in their
respective regions.
An executive meeting of
all RDC Chairpersons/Co-
Chairpersons and NEDA
Regional Directors/Assistant-
Regional Directors was
RDC XII to host the 9th
National
PSR Convention in 2018
By: Judd Nichol L. Leonar, NEDA XII-DRD
10 | Regional Development Updates | April - June 2017
Provincial Director Engr. Richard Amparo of TESDA Sarangani-Gensan presented
the SOX Regional Skills Competition during the RSDC XII Meeting on May 31,
2017 in Koronadal City.
conducted on the 2nd
day that
formally selected Region XII as
the host for the next National
PSR Convention.
The 3-day convention was
concluded by a DOT VII
organized tour around the
island of Bohol, specifically
the famous Chocolate Hills
and Loboc River Cruise Tour.
Vice-Chairperson and NEDA
XII Regional Director Arturo
G. Valero, and PSR Ricardo
Juliano headed the fifteen (15)
RDC XII Delegation.
PSR Nestor S.
Lumawig in action
during the 8th
PSR
Convention on June
21-23, 2017 in Bohol.
The Region XII Private Sector Representatives with NEDA Officials during the PSR
Convention in Bohol on June 21-23. 2017.

NNC XII Spearheads the 43rd
Nutrition Month Celebration
By: Evie A. Cabulanan, NEDA XII-DRD
healthy lifestyle.
Ms. Arceli M. Latonio,
Regional Nutrition
Coordinator of NNC
XII, stressed the
importance of a healthy
diet as the foundation
of good health and
as part of a healthy
lifestyle. A healthy diet
provides just enough
amount of energy
needed for one’s daily
activities without going
Cotabato – “Healthy diet,
Gawing habit – FOR LIFE!”
This is the 43rd
Nutrition Month
Celebration Theme. It aims
to increase awareness on the
importance of healthy diet
which protects against both
under- and over nutrition and
non-communicable diseases
(NCDs) such as hypertension,
diabetes, cardio-vascular
diseases and certain type of
cancer.
For this year’s celebration,
the National Nutrition Council
(NNC) XII is spearheading
various activities starting with
a launching program on July
6, 2017 at Viajera Dine and
Café, Koronadal City. The
activity started with a zumba
fitness exercise participated in
by regional line agencies, city/
municipal nutrition coordinators
and non-government
organization to give
emphasis on having a
beyond one’s caloric needs so
as to maintain a healthy body
weight. It is also consistent
with the principles in nutrition
– BALANCE, VARIETY and
MODERATION.
Balance is consuming foods
from different food groups
in proportion to each other;
Variety is eating different
kinds of food from the different
food groups every day; and
Moderation is eating the right
proportion of food but not
consuming too much or too
little for what the body needs.
Other activities lined-up for
the nutrition month celebration
are: hanging of streamers,
health assessment and diet
counselling, radio guesting/
plugging, distribution
of advocacy materials,
healthy diet forum for food
establishments and a
culmination program. The
month long celebration is
mandated by Presidential
Decree 491 or the Nutrition Act
of the Philippines.
Ms. Arceli M. Latonio, Regional
Nutrition Program Coordinator stressed
the importance of a healthy diet as the
foundation of good health.

12 | Regional Development Updates | April - June 2017

Regional Development Updates | Vol 15 Issue 3 | July - September 2017

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