The proposed Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA) will
provide empowerment to local chief executives during a pandemic or an outbreak.
Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio said the MDDA will be helpful during a pandemic because one of the areas that the local government units (LGUs) will work on Metro Davao is safety.
“In a pandemic, if the authority is given all the powers that it needs to control the outbreak or pandemic then it will be very useful,” Mayor Sara said.
On March 25, 2021, the House of Representatives approved on final reading House Bill 8930 that will create the MDDA.
The proposed MDDA covers Davao City; the cities of Panabo, Tagum and Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte; Digos City in Davao del Sur; Mati City in Davao Oriental; and the municipalities of Sta. Cruz in Davao del Sur, Carmen in Davao del Norte, Maco in Davao de Oro, and Malita in Davao Occidental.
The five areas that all the LGUs will only collaborate on under Metropolitan Davao set up are urban development, sewerage and septage, solid waste management, public transport and traffic, and public safety and security.
Currently, the proposal is still pending for deliberation at the Senate.
Representative Isidro Ungab of the third district of Davao City disclosed that the moment the proposed MDDA will be approved into law, the region will now have a separate budget for infrastructure, drainage, disaster management, traffic management, and even operating expenses.
