The document summarizes the 9th RDC-PSR National Convention held in General Santos City from May 22-25, 2018. About 140 private sector representatives from RDCs nationwide attended the annual gathering, which aimed to strengthen the roles of PSRs and enhance their understanding of responsibilities in the RDC. Key government officials spoke on topics like peace and security, federalism, and agriculture. Participants also visited tourism sites in the region and experienced local delicacies and culture. The RPMC recommended expediting infrastructure projects in SOCCSKSARGEN as some faced delays due to weather, funds, and permitting issues.

1. 5
Private Sector Reps Converge
in Sox for the 9th
NatCon

2. Editor-in-Chief
RD TERESITA SOCORRO C. RAMOS
Associate Editor
ARD NOEL E. QUIRATMAN
Contributing Editors
JULIE ESPERANZA B. CHUNG
MARIA FELICIDAD R. GUERRERO
MA. LULU E. VALENCIA
EDEN F. RIDAO
GUILLERMO R. MANRIQUE, JR.
RDU Focal Persons
LALAINE M. SAJELAN
SANDRA J. ALIDO
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
EVIE A. CABULANAN
JOSEPH DIDIUS L. CLAVE
MYRA L. SAJO
Photographer
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
Layout Artist
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
Contributors
PIA XII
PSA XII
EDITORIAL BOARD
The Regional Development Updates
(RDU) is published quarterly by 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
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CONTENTS
Private Sector Reps Converge in Sox for
the 9th
NatCon
EMB urges public to fight ‘Plastic
Pollution‘
On our cover is the 9th
Regional
Development Council - Private
Sector Representative (RDC-PSR)
National Convention on May 22-25,
2018 at Greenleaf Hotel, General
Santos City, which was attended by
about 140 PSRs.
33
Dangerous Drug Abuse Treatment and
Rehabilitation Center Project in Alabel,
Sarangani now 65% completed
3 RLAs join RGADC XII
RPMC XII recommends speeding up
of SOCCSKSARGEN Region Infra
Projects’ Implementation
Volume 16 | Issue No. 2 | April - June 2018
6-76-7
88
99
2 | Regional Development Updates | April - June 2018
1111
SOCCSKSARGEN’s economy speeds
up as AHFF recovers55
RDC XII discusses Mindanao Peace and
Development Framework1010

3. April - June 2018 | Regional Development Updates | 3
City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato – About 140 Private
Sector Representations (PSRs)
of the Regional Development
Council (RDCs) across the
country, converged in the
SOCCSKSARGEN Region
for the 9th
RDC-PSR National
Convention on May 22-25, 2018
at the Greenleaf Hotel, General
Santos City.
The annual gathering of the PSRs
aimed to strengthen the roles of
PSRs in the RDC; enhance the
appreciation and understanding
of PSRs on their roles and
responsibilities in the RDC;
and identify the impacts and
recommend measures in the areas
of private sector participation.
The said convention was fortunate
to have the heads of national
government agencies as resource
persons. Among them were
Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana
of the Department of National
Defense, who spoke on “Peace
By: Sandra J. Alido, NEDA XII-DRD
and Security in the Country: The
Mindanao Context”; and Assistant
Secretary Jonathan E. Malaya of
the Department of the Interior and
Local Government who presented
“Federalism: An Overview of
the Proposed Philippine Federal
Model”.
Meanwhile, additional
inputs were provided by the
following: representative from
the Bangsamoro Transition
Commission (BTC), Professor
Raby Angkal, who discussed
about the “Bangsamoro Basic
Law”; “Barrier-Free Tourism”
by Regional Director Maria Rica
C. Bueno of the Department of
Tourism XII; and “The State of
Philippine Agriculture: Peace
and Food Security” which was
discussed by Ray H. Embajador,
the OIC-Chief of the Field
Operations Division of the
Department of Agriculture XII.
The participants were given
a day to visit and experience
some of the tourism sites in
the region. There were three
tour packages offered. The first
was the SOX Agri-Eco Tour
Experience that gave the tourist-
participant the chance to see the
beauty of the majestic falls, have
lunch in the lake cruise, learn
the culture and practices of the
T’boli in the Museum and visit
the Sebul organic farm, all in
the municipality of Lake Sebu
in South Cotabato. The second
package was the SOXciting
Food Tour Experience that
offered different delicacies in the
region. The tour started from
Sarangani Highlands Garden
and Restaurant, then to Felicidad
Orchard Garden and Organics and
to Lamlifew Village Museum,
for an immersion with B’laan
culture and had a taste of the
authentic dishes of the B’laans in
Malungon, Sarangani Province.
The third package was the SOX
Farm Tour Town Glan Experience
covering the visit to Rio Vista
Private Sector Reps Converge in Sox for the 9th
NatCon
Private Sector ... page 4

4. 4 | Regional Development Updates | April - June 2018
Private Sector ... from page 3
Organic Farm and relaxing with the breathtaking view of the Isla Jardin Del Mar, a white beach in Gumasa,
Sarangani Province. All of the tour packages ended with the Pacman Adventure, with a glimpse of the life of
Iconic Boxing czar Manny Pacquiao. The bulk or about 60% of the participants chose the Agri-Eco Tour.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

5. April - June 2018 | Regional Development Updates | 5
By: Ma. Eileen A. Berdeprado, PSA XII
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato – SOCCSKSARGEN’s economy expanded by 8.2 percent in 2017,
faster than the 4.9 percent growth in 2016. The expansion of the regional economy was driven by the
recovery of the Agriculture, Hunting, Forestry and Fishing (AHFF) industry.
Services accounted for the largest
share of the region’s total output
at 40.2 percent followed by
industry at 36.8 percent. AHFF
had the smallest share at 23.0
percent.
Services sustained its 7.6
percent growth as four (4) of
its sub-industries accelerated
in 2017. Other services (OS),
and Trade and Repairs recorded
higher growths in 2017, from
9.4 percent to 9.8 percent,
and from 7.4 percent to 8.0
percent, respectively. Public
Administration and Defense
(PAD) from 5.6 percent to 6.2
percent and Transportation
Storage and Communication
(TSC) from 4.5 percent to 6.1
percent also outpaced their
previous performances. Financial
Intermediation (FI) expanded to
7.6 percent in 2017, slower than
the 9.9 percent recorded in 2016.
Real Estate, Renting and Business
Activities (RERBA) decelerated
from 8.4 percent in 2016 to 6.5
percent in 2017.
Industry grew by 8.4 percent in
2017, slower than the 13.1 percent
growth posted in 2016. The
deceleration can be attributed to a
reversal in growth of Electricity,
Gas and Water Supply (EGW)
which declined from 24.4 percent
in 2016 to negative 7.0 percent
in 2017. Manufacturing, which
accounted for the bulk of the
industry, sustained its momentum
as it grew from 8.4 percent in
2016 to 10.3 percent in 2017.
Mining and Quarrying posted
an uptrend from 7.2 percent to
8.0 percent. Construction also
expanded though at a slower pace
from 23.9 percent in 2016 to 10.4
percent in 2017.
Growth in AHFF rebounded from
negative 9.5 percent in 2016 to
8.7 percent in 2017. Agriculture
and Forestry recovered from 6.8
percent contraction in 2016 to 8.2
percent growth in 2017. Fishing
bounced back from a 20.6 percent
slump in 2016 to an 11.2 percent
growth in 2017.
Industry and Services contributed
the highest to the total regional
economic growth in 2017, each
sharing 3.1 percentage points.
AHFF contributed 2.0 percentage
points.
GRDP is defined as the market
value of all final goods and
services produced within a region
in a given period of time. The
GRDP is compiled on an annual
basis by the Philippine Statistics
Authority (PSA).
SOCCSKSARGEN’s economy speeds up
as AHFF recovers
SOCCSKSARGEN ranked fifth among
the fastest regions in terms of economic
growth and among the few regions in
the country that outpaced the national
economic performance in 2017.
-----------------

6. PROJECT MONITORING PROJECT MONITORING
10 | Regional Development Updates | April - June 20176 | Regional Development Updates | April - June 2018
PROJECT MONITORING PROJECT MONITORING
RPMC XII recommends speeding
up of SOCCSKSARGEN Region Infra
Projects’ Implementation
By: Myra L. Sajo, NEDA XII - DRD
City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato – The Regional Project
Monitoring Committee (RPMC)
XII conducted two (2) separate
Regular Field Monitoring Visits to
government-implemented/ funded
projects in South Cotabato on
9-11 May 2018, and in Sarangani
and General Santos City on 16-18
May 2018. In total, twenty-four
(24) projects were visited and
monitored during the said visits
for the 2nd
quarter of CY 2018.
Among the projects that were
monitored and assessed were: (a)
road widening and rehabilitation
projects along the provinces of
South Cotabato and Sarangani, (b)
bridge projects along Sarangani
road, (c) water supply projects,
(d) farm-to-market roads (FMRs),
(e) drug rehabilitation project, and
(f) operations building and wharf
for rail mounted gantry crane of
PPA-General Santos City. Most
of the projects were implemented
by DPWH South Cotabato and
Sarangani District Engineering
Offices.
Some bottlenecks and delays in
the implementation phase of the
projects have been caused by: (a)
inclement weather condition, poor
condition of the road leading to
the project site, and simultaneous
implementation of the CY 2017
and CY 2018 road projects in the
same stretch which resulted to
difficulty in the transportation and
hauling of aggregates and other
construction materials; (b) delay
in the processing of the transfer of
funds to the implementing agency;
(c) non-removal of transmission
lines, service lines and other
structures of telecommunication
companies which in effect delayed
the implementation of road
widening projects and bridge
projects, particularly projects
along Sinawal Bridge, Siguel
Bridge and Digos-Makar Road;
and (d) non-issuance of permit
from DENR relative to the cutting
of trees in areas affected by road
and bridge widening projects.
The Committee also conducted
a Special Field Monitoring visit
to four (4) flood control river
bank protection projects in the
municipality of Sto. Niño, South
Cotabato traversed by Allah River,
specifically in Brgys. Panay,
Ambalgan and Poblacion. One (1)
road project in Brgy. Panay was
also visited and the observations
The constructed Wharf for Rail Mounted Gantry (RMG) Crane at Makar Wharf,
General Santos City has a contract cost of PhP 593,888,778.31. The project was
100 percent completed as of October 23, 2017, ahead of schedule by 6 months, from
its target date of completion within April 2018, posting a positive slippage of 17%.

7. April - June 2018 | Regional Development Updates | 7
PROJECT MONITORING PROJECT MONITORING
PROJECT MONITORING PROJECT MONITORING
and recommendations of the
RPMC XII were already acted
upon by the implementing agency.
All other issues, agreements and
instructions to address some of the
problems in the implementation
of the aforementioned projects
were discussed during the RPMC
XII meeting cum Problem Solving
Session which took place on 07
June 2018 in Koronadal City.
Further, the Committee, during
its CY 2018 2nd
Quarter Regular
Meeting, passed resolutions for
selected projects visited and
monitored in the abovementioned
monitoring activities, instructing
and/or requesting the concerned
agencies to expedite and/or
accelerate their processes and to
impose urgent actions to resolve
the problems identified and
encountered by these projects.
The Municipal Gymnasium at Barangay
Poblacion, Malungon, Sarangani
features Rain Water Collector and 12
pcs 4’x8’Solar Panels with a contract
cost of PhP 9,041,953.41. As of April 30,
2018, the contractor has accomplished
77.20% with a slippage of negative (-)
22.80%.

8. 8 | Regional Development Updates | April - June 2018
Koronadal City, South
Cotabato, June 8 (PIA) – The
Environmental Management
Bureau (EMB) of the Department
of Environment and Natural
Resources Region XII on
Tuesday, June 5, called on citizens
to cut plastic usage to help address
plastic pollution in the country.
The EMB XII made this call in
light of the celebration of the
World Environment Day 2018.
According to EMB XII Regional
Director Ma. Socorro Lanto, the
World Environment Day was an
important event to increase global
awareness and forge action to
protect the environment.
“Beat Plastic Pollution” was this
year’s theme, Lanto added as she
urged the public to refuse any
single-use plastic items.
“Based on data, the most common
source of plastic wastes in the
Philippines are products sold
in single use sachets. These
include instant coffee, shampoo,
toothpaste and other packaging of
food products,” Lanto said.
Straws, shopping bags, plastic
cups and utensils and other
similar items can be replaced with
reusable ones, the official added.
Lanto also cited Koronadal
City’s strict implementation and
enforcement of its anti-plastic
ordinance that requires stores and
buyers to use alternative paper
bags, baskets, sacks and other
recyclables in their purchases.
Pursuant to City Ordinance No.
5 Series of 2016, establishments
in the city are prohibited from
using primary plastic (smoke
cellophane); secondary plastic
(sando & shopping bags)
including any containers
made of polystyrene known as
“styrofoam.”
The EMB XII also encourages the
public to organize or join cleanup
of creeks, rivers, and coastal areas
to prevent plastic materials from
further contaminating the water
bodies.
The World Environment Day,
which started in 1974 is celebrated
every June 5 and has since
become an important venue for
people to come together to show
concern for the environment.
EMB XII urges public to ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’
By: Oliver Ross V. Rivera, PIA XII Photo Source: http://worldenvironmentday.global/
RD Ma. Socorro C. Lanto urged the
public to refuse any single-use plastic
items during the Kapihan sa PIA 12 on
June 5, 2018 at the City Mall, Koronadal
City.

9. April - June 2018 | Regional Development Updates | 9
By: Evie Arabis-Cabulanan, NEDA XII-DRD
City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato – During the 62nd
Regional Development Council
(RDC) XII Meeting on June
20, 2018 in Tacurong City, the
Regional Project Monitoring
Committee (RPMC) XII reported
that the on-going construction
of the Dangerous Drug Abuse
Treatment and Rehabilitation
Center (DDATRC) project
in Kawas, Alabel, Sarangani
Province was 65.07% completed
as of May 31, 2018.
The project, funded by the
Chinese Government, has
a total cost of PhP 302.161
Million. Its implementation is in
partnership with the Provincial
Government of Sarangani; East
China Architectural Design
Institute Co. Ltd.; JV Engineering
Construction Consulting Co.
Ltd. of Shanghai Xian Dai
Architectural Design Group as the
project management company;
China State Construction
Engineering Corporation Ltd. as
the EPC contractor; and Tongji
Architectural Design (Group) Co.,
Ltd. as the design institute.
The DDATRC has a total floor
area of 6,750.36sq.m. with 150
beds comprising a 2-storey
administration/clinic building;
3-storey visitor’s hall/male
dormitory building; 2-storey
staff house/female dormitory
building; multi-purpose covered
court/kitchen/mess-hall/
workshop building; 2 units of
facility-subsidiary building (for
substation and sewage treatment
plant); and a guard house. The
project’s structural design is
climate and disaster resilient that
could withstand an intensity 9
earthquake.
The project is the first major
drug rehabilitation center in
SOCCSKSARGEN Region in
response to the War on Drugs
program of President Duterte.
The DDARTC may not be
able to accommodate all drug
surrenderers in the region through
its 150-bed capacity. Thus, it
is hoped that additional drug
rehabilitation centers in the other
three provinces of Region XII
coud be established.
The Department of Health (DOH)
XII shall oversee the operation
of the center. It shall be manned
by 98 personnel composed of
medical and administrative
staff. Hiring and training of
personnel are scheduled in July
to August 2018 while filling up
of permanent plantilla positions
will be in December 2018 to May
2019.
The DDATRC is expected to be
completed in December 2018,
ahead of its target completion date
by more than one (1)-month.
Dangerous Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center
Project in Alabel, Sarangani now 65% completed

10. 10 | Regional Development Updates | April - June 2018
By: Sandra J. Alido, NEDA XII-DRD
City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato – The Mindanao Peace
and Development Framework
(MPDF) was one of the highlights
of the Regional Development
Council (RDC) XII agenda during
its 62nd
Regular Meeting on
June 20, 2018 at Palm Pavilion,
Tacurong City. The MPDF was
presented by Assistant Secretary
Rolando B. Asuncion of the Office
of the Presidential Adviser on the
Peace Process (OPAPP).
The OPAPP’s presentation of the
said framework was aimed at
informing the stakeholders on the
guiding principle and structural
elements of government’s
efforts, as well as to answer
queries pertaining to peace and
development of Mindanao.
According to Asec. Asuncion, the
MPDF is anchored on Chapter
17 of the Philippine/Regional
Development Plan, 2017-2022,
which is “Attaining Just and
Lasting Peace”. He emphasized
the two faces of Mindanao as
featured in the framework, which
are: first, the developed one
where growth and development
is prevalent; and second, the less
developed one, which is lagging
and conflict-affected. With the
observed Mindanao condition,
disparities across regions were
experienced in terms of quality of
governance and in stability and
security, he added.
Meanwhile, Asec. Asuncion
emphasized the MPDF vision to
solve the problem of disparities,
which is “A Peaceful, Cohesive
and Inclusively Developed
Mindanao.” He likewise
mentioned the five strategic
outcomes that the framework
would like to attain, namely:
effective governance, resilient
communities, inclusive
economic growth, stable security
environment, and nationwide
consensus for peace. In the
attainment of the strategic
outcomes, specific programs
like Payapa at Masaganang
Pamayanan (PAMANA),
Bangsamoro normalization,
conflict transformation, among
others will be implemented, the
Asec added.
Asec. Asuncion also clarified that
the CPP-NPA and the concerns
on Bangsamoro were considered
in the framework. However,
the issue of federalism was not
considered since the framework
was formulated ahead of the move
for the proposed shift to federal
form of government.
RDC XII discusses
Mindanao Peace
and Development
Framework OPAPP Assistant Secretary Rolando B. Asuncion during
the 62nd
RDC XII Meeting on June 20, 2018 at The Palm
Pavilion, Tacurong City.

11. April - June 2018 | Regional Development Updates | 11
City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato – Three (3) regional
line agencies (RLAs) namely:
the Department of Agriculture
XII, Department of Environment
and Natural Resources XII,
and Department of Education
XII, joined the Regional
Gender and Development
Committee (RGADC) XII. Their
membership was confirmed by the
Regional Development Council
(RDC) XII during its 62nd
Full
Council meeting on June 20, 2018
in Tacurong City.
Considering their important
roles in gender and development
mainstreaming, especially for
the marginalized sectors of
society, the intention of the
abovementioned RLAs were
approved by the committee during
its meeting on May 9, 2018 at the
Commission on Human Rights
(CHR) XII Conference Room,
Prime Regional Government
Center, Carpenter Hill, Koronadal
City.
RGADC XII is an affiliate
committee of RDC XII per RDC
XII Resolution No. 18, Series of
2017 passed during its 57th
Full
Council Meeting on March 15,
2017.
Atty. Erlan P. Deluvio, Regional
Director of CHR XII and Ms.
Eulit F. Torres, Executive Director
of Tri-People Organizations
against Disasters were elected as
Chairperson and Co-Chairperson
of RGADC XII, respectively, as
confirmed by RDC XII Resolution
No. 60, Series of 2017.
The Committee is now composed
of four (4) RDC XII Sectoral
Committee Chairpersons, 13
Regional Line Agencies, six (6)
Local Government Units, five (5)
State Universities and Colleges,
and six (6) representatives from
Civil Society Organizations.
3 RLAs join
RGADC XII
By: Apollo Y. Manlawe, NEDA XII-DRD
Atty. Erlan P. Deluvio, Regional
Director of the Commission on Human
Rights (CHR) XII rendered his report
as RGADC XII Chairperson during the
62nd
RDC XII Meeting on June 20, 2018
in Tacurong City.
RGADC XII 2nd
Quarter Meeting on
May 9, 2018 at CHR XII Conference
Room, Prime Regional Government
Center, Carpenter Hill, Koronadal City.

12. 12 | Regional Development Updates | October - December 2017