City of Mati Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat welcomed the unanimous passage of the bill creating the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority in the Senate wherein the City of Mati is among the annex LGUs.
In a statement, Mayor Michelle Rabat said “ God really answers prayers. Initial plans did not include Mati because it is far off the path. But through further studies and thoughtful considerations it was decided that Mati be included. Big boost to our development and economy.”
She thanked all lawmakers who made this dream come true.
Back on March 25, 2021, the House of Representatives passed House Bill 8930, “An Act Creating the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA), Defining Its Powers and Functions, and Providing Funds Therefor”. Its principal author is Rep. Isidro T. Ungab of Davao City’s Third District.
Yesterday, January 18, 2022, the Senate approved on third and final reading House Bill No. 8930 seeking the creation of the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA), with 23 affirmative votes, no negative votes and no abstentions.
Sen. Francis Tolentino, chairman of the Senate local government committee and sponsor of the bill in the Senate, said the MDDA’s establishment will “institutionalize rapid urbanization” in the Davao region “through strategic and viable reforms directed primarily towards regional cooperation and economic growth.”
Both Lower House and Senate versions institutionalized the policy on national dispersion through regional agglomeration to revitalize large cities and eventually stir them to expand its physical area for planning, as espoused in the National Spatial Strategy (NSS).
The MDDA shall have jurisdiction over the core LGUs, namely, cities of Panabo, Tagum and Island Garden City of Samal (IGACoS) in Davao del Norte; Digos in Davao del Sur; and highly urbanized City of Davao; and the municipalities of Carmen in Davao del Norte, and Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur.
The City of Mati in Davao Oriental, and the municipalities of Maco in Davao de Oro, and Malita in Davao Occidental are meanwhile its annex LGUs.
The bill is one of the initiatives of the Metropolitan Davao Development Coordinating Committee (MDDCC), a special committee under the Regional Development Council (RDC) XI, is under the leadership of Davao City Mayor Sara Z. Duterte. (CIO MATI)
