Davao Region will soon be raking huge funding for various government programs and projects as concurrent chairperson of the Regional Development Council (RDC) is batting to get 80 percent to 90 percent of proposed projects be funded.
In an interview, Davao del Norte Governor Anthony G. del Rosario who now holds the chairpersonship of RDC 11, expressed his goal of breaking records of pushing for funding for projects listed in General Appropriations Act (GAA).
He revealed that over the years, only 40 percent to 50 percent of projects lined up by RDC 11 had been funded.
“As chair, we will be able to get as much as 80%; that is going to be a record. Wala pa jud ni nahitabo sa una (That has never been done before.),” he said.
He explained that his aim of getting substantial funding for Davao Region projects would run in line with his thrust of fostering a “results-oriented” RDC.
In stride with this, he intended to meet all District Representatives of Davao Region on April 10 at the House of Congress to conduct the RDC 11 Advisory Council Meeting.
“They would have no reason not to attend because we are the ones going to Congress to meet them,” he said.
Del Rosario was hoping to get the full backing of all the Congress Representatives to push for funding of lined up programs and projects for Davao Region.
“To ensure that they are funded is to lobby the Congressmen,” he said.
In his State of the Province Address (SOPA), Del Rosario said he envisioned Davao Region to play a major role in pushing for national development.
His optimism is fueled by his belief that Davao Region had the edge because “the President is from Davao; the House Speaker is from Davao and that the Chair and the Senior Vice Chair of the Committee on Appropriations are from Davao,” he said.
Del Rosario was referring to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, Davao del Norte 1st District Representative Pantaleon Alvarez, Davao City Congressman Karlo Nograles and Compostela Valley 1st District Representative Maricar Zamora, respectively.
“With this, it would be more than 80 percent; baka 90 percent na,” he said. (PIA 11/ Jeanevive Duron Abangan)
