by Noel Baguio
Davao del Norte Governor Rodolfo del Rosario has acknowledged the contribution of the private sector in realizing the development thrusts of his administration, which is lumped into the RDR WHEELS agenda.
While citing partnership with national government agencies and overseas development agencies as greatly contributing to the attainment of his development agenda, del Rosario also showed his appreciation for the cooperation of the private sector in the socio-economic advancement of the province.
He said non-government organizations and private sector representatives are well-entrenched in the different development councils and special bodies of the provincial government and its various local government units, and that they actively participate in all the consultations, meetings and planning activities of these local bodies.
“Our development councils and local special bodies are well-represented by the NGOs and private sector and we see to it that they are active in all the consultations, meetings and planning activities,” he said.
He said the province gets ample support from the private sector, especially in coming up with excellent and highly-feasible development plans.
He cited as a perfect example the newly-approved Provincial Development and Physical Framework Plan (PDPFP), where Davao del Norte earned recognition for being the first province in the country to complete and submit such model comprehensive plan to the national government.
Del Rosario added that the province also utilizes the private sector in the implementation of its infrastructure projects, particularly allowing them to seize a considerable share in the execution of more than 300 projects in the barangays under the local stimulus fund in pursuit of Project NOBLE (No Barangay Left Behind).
“We see to it that the private sector is able to participate in the implementation of our projects by entering into contract with them, which also hastens the completion of the projects,” he told personnel of the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) -11.
The governor explained that partnership with the private sector allows the provincial government to take advantage of economies of scale, as well as improve efficiency, quality and coverage of its projects and services.
By working in partnership with the private sector, del Rosario said the province can benefit from the strong incentives for private firms to keep costs down. He added that cooperation can also generate more jobs and income while meeting the demand for public goods and services.
He also paid tribute to the outreach programs and voluntary services of business clubs and humanitarian organizations in the province, such as the Rotary clubs, Jaycees, Kiwanians, and the local chamber of commerce and industry, among other charity groups and organizations.
