Stakeholders of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Development Committee for Mindanao Area Committee (RD COM-MAC) vowed to address Mindanao’s high poverty rate during their 39th conference held in Davao City on Friday.
Among the attendees during the meeting were Cotabato Governor Emmylou “Lala” J. Taliño-Mendoza, who is also the Regional Development Council (RDC) chair for SOCCSKSARGEN 12; and NB RDCom-MAC chair and Zamboanga Peninsula RDC Chair / Zamboanga City Mayor John M. Dalipe.
The event highlighted the agreements and the updates of the previous NB-RDCom conference, initiatives being taken by the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) related to poverty alleviation.
Mendoza said that among the essentials in combating poverty is enhancing the availability of resources.
“The construction of clean water and sanitary facilities, for example, is an example of infrastructure investment that may greatly enhance the health and well-being of underprivileged people,” she said.
Meanwhile, newly installed Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) chairperson Secretary Leo Tereso A. Magno has reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to identifying and addressing the needs of the poorest communities in Mindanao.
Speaking before the stakeholders during the conference, Magno highlighted the urgent issue of Mindanao’s high poverty rate.
He also emphasized that this stark reality underscores the commitment of the region’s leaders to eradicate poverty.
“My presence here demonstrates our solidarity with the stakeholders of the RD COM-MAC. Mindanao faces significant and widespread challenges, and we pledge to collaborate closely with stakeholders, especially local government units (LGUs) and the RD COM-MAC,” Magno said in a statement.
Magno added that MinDA’s active involvement in the Regional Development Committee is essential for the ongoing development of Mindanao.
“It enhances the region’s connection to the national government, ensuring that Mindanao’s concerns and priorities are effectively communicated and addressed,” he said.
The regular RD COM-MAC meetings, organized by NEDA’s Mindanao regional offices, aim to provide a unified platform for addressing critical issues as well as foster a collaborative approach to identifying solutions and overcoming obstacles in program delivery, thereby contributing to the comprehensive development of Mindanao.
The conference also highlighted updates on the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project in Mindanao, and even the proposal to return the P20 million funds under the Local Government Support Fund-Support to Barangay Development Program for barangays declared “insurgency-free” and the matter regarding Energy Regulation No. 1-94.
