1. The RDC XII Sealpage 12

2. 2 | Regional Development Updates | October - December 2016
Editor-in-Chief
RD ARTURO G. VALERO
Associate Editor
ARD NOEL E. QUIRATMAN
Contributing Editors
JULIE ESPERANZA B. CHUNG
MARIA FELICIDAD R. GUERRERO
ROSA D. LEMANA
MA. LULU E. VALENCIA
JULIET G. BOLANDO
RDU Focal Persons
HELEN L. VESTAL
LALAINE M. SAJELAN
EDEN F. RIDAO
LIBERTY B. ARUMPAC
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
JUDD NICHOL L. LEONAR
Photographer
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
Layout Artist
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
Contributor
ROMEO C. NEBRIJA
MINDANEWS
EDITORIAL BOARD
The Regional Development Updates
(RDU) is published quarterly by the Regional
Development Council (RDC) XII with
editorial office at the National Economic and
Development Authority Regional Office XII,
PrimeRegionalGovernmentCenter,Carpenter
Hill, Koronadal City, South Cotabato,
with Telephone No.: (083) 228-9203,
Fax: (083) 228-9203. The Editorial Board
reserves the right to edit the manuscript for
reasons of space and clarity. RDU assumes no
responsibility on unpublished and unsolicited
materials.
HOW TO REACH US
Do you have questions, comments or
suggestions? Send your letters with complete
name and address to our editorial office
mentioned above, or email us at nedaxii@
gmail.com or nedaxii@yahoo.com.
CONTENTS
Marcelo L. Gusanan: Individual Adult
SOV Awardee FY 2016
RDC XII Adopts SOCCSKSARGEN
2017-2022 Regional Development
Plan (RDP), Regional Development
Investment Program (RDIP), and FY
2018 Annual Investment Program (AIP)
Region XII’s Poverty Incidence
Declines to 37.3% in 2015
NEDA XII Receives PRIME-HRM
Maturity Level II Recognition from
CSC XII
On our cover is the seal of Regional
Development Council (RDC) XII,
the highest policy making body
in SOCCSKSARGEN Region,
and the Php40-Million building
of the RDC XII Secretariat, the
office of National Economic and
Development Authority located at
the Prime Regional Government
Center, Carpenter Hill in the City
of Koronadal, South Cotabato,
Philippines.
33
55
44
NEDA XII Adjudged Second in the
Gulayan sa Opisina, Phase 4 Contest
1111 RDC XII Celebrates Road Safety Day,
Orients Pupils in General Santos City
AmBisyon Natin 2040 gets Support
from Region XII66
88
99
1212 The RDC XII Seal
Volume 14 | Issue No. 4 | October - December 2016

3. October - December 2016 | Regional Development Updates | 3
RDC XII Adopts SOCCSKSARGEN 2017-2022
Regional Development Plan (RDP), Regional
Development Investment Program (RDIP), and
FY 2018 Annual Investment Program (AIP)
By: Helen L. Vestal, NEDA XII-DRD
City of Koronadal,
South Cotabato – The
SOCCSKSARGEN RDP and
RDIP for 2017-2022 and the
FY 2018 AIP were adopted
and endorsed by the Regional
Development Council XII during
its meeting on December 14, 2016
at the City Mall, Cotabato City.
The meeting, which was
generously hosted by the city
government of Cotabato under the
leadership of City Mayor Cynthia
Guiani- Sayadi, was attended by
forty-two (42) Council members/
representatives. NEDA XII
Regional Director Arturo G.
Valero, the Acting Chairperson
of RDC XII, presided over the
meeting.
Mayor Sayadi warmly welcomed
the RDC XII members and
thanked the Council for accepting
her invitation to hold one of its
meetings in Cotabato City. She
informed the Council members
and guests of the development
that the city has achieved in
the last few years, particularly
in improving peace and order
situation. She said that the city
has achieved a 52% reduction in
crime rate resulting to increasing
investments. The mayor also
reported that the city was able to
computerize its business permits
and licensing; and increased
allocation for basic social
services, among others. And as
part of the city’s development
agenda and priorities for the next
three years, she said that she is
giving peace and order, dredging
of the Rio Grande de Mindanao
and Tamontaka River, traffic
congestion and development of
the Metro Cotabato Regional
Agri-Industrial Center (MCRAIC)
as her primary concerns.
Before the meeting proper started,
Plaques of Appreciation were
awarded to the following:
a) Region XII Nominees for the
Search for Outstanding Volunteers
(SOV) 2016 for both organization
and individual categories;
b) Two (2) outgoing RPMC XII
members and one (1) InfraCom
member for their invaluable
support to both committees;
c) Dance troupes of MSU-GSC
Campus and Cotabato State
Polytechnic College for promoting
culture thru dances and songs
during the SOCCSKSARGEN
Region Launching of AmBisyon
Natin 2040.
The Sectoral Committee Officers
and the thirteen (13) RDC XII
Special Non-Voting Members
(SNVMs) for the term 2016-2019
were confirmed during the said
meeting.
As one of the highlights of the
meeting, the SOCCSKSARGEN
RDP, 2017-2022 and the
SOCCSKSARGEN RDIP, 2017-
2022 and the Annual Investment
Program (AIP) CY 2018, were
RDC XII ... page 4
RDC XII Chairperson Arturo G. Valero awarded Plaque of Appreciation to
Cotabato City Mayor Frances Cynthia Guiani-Sayadi for hosting the 56th
RDC
XII Full Council Meeting on December 14, 2016 in Cotabato City.

4. 4 | Regional Development Updates | October - December 2016
presented for information and
appropriate actions of the Council.
The SOCCSKSARGEN RDP,
2017-2022, was adopted by
the Council subject to final
review, before its printing, by
the RDC XII AdHoc Committee
composed of Sectoral Committee
officers. Meanwhile, the
SOCCSKSARGEN RDIP, 2017-
2022 and the Annual Investment
Program (AIP) CY 2018, were
approved and endorsed by the
Council to DBM, for appropriate
action.
Concerns of the four (4) Sectoral
Committees of the Council were
likewise presented for information
and appropriate action of the
members.
A total of 28 resolutions were
passed by the Council.
"One does not need to fight and win a war to
become a modern day bayani"
Mr. Marcelo L. Gusanan, 42 years old, is a B’laan
villager of Eday, Columbio, Sultan Kudarat,
a village plagued with famine, unstable peace
condition, absence of livelihood means, illiteracy
and inaccessible roads; where villagers struggled
to meet life’s essentials everyday. Being an exit
point of rebels, Eday residents ended up fleeing
their homes as insurgents occupied the whole
community. Many B’laans decided to settle in other
villages and left Eday permanently.
Instead of joining the diaspora of B’laans, Mr.
Gusanan voluntarily led to request help from
various organizations to intervene in their situation.
He volunteered in the Department of Social Welfare
and Development flagship poverty reduction
program, Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-A
Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social
Services-National Community-Driven Development
Program (KALAHI CIDSS-NCDDP). He served
as the program’s volunteer, implementing various
projects that answered the pressing needs of Eday
villagers. One of the important accomplishments is
the school building project which was completed
with the strong participation of the community, and
generated almost PhP100,000.00 savings after the
project completion. The excess money and materials
were enough to construct the school’s stage and
water reservoir, hence benefitting hundreds of pupils.
Today, the Eday community that was considered by
many as a “no man’s land” is a top performing and
model barangay of Colombio. (Source: http://www.
pnvsca.gov.ph/sov/page.php?article=awardees/2016/
inda-gusanan)
RDC XII ... from page 3
Marcelo L. Gusanan
Category: Individual - Adult
SOV Awardee FY 2016
In picture (L-R) - Executive Director Joselito C. de Vera of
PNVSCA, 2015-2016 NVM Honorary Chair Sister Eva Fidela
C. Maamo, Mr. Marcelo L. Gusanan, Socioeconomic Planning
Secretary and NVM Steering Committee Chair Ernesto M.
Pernia, and Ms. Erlinda M. Capones, Director of NEDA Social
Development Staff and this year’s Chair of the SOV National
Selection Committee during the Awarding Ceremony on 13
December 2016 at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Ortigas
Center, Quezon City.

5. October - December 2016 | Regional Development Updates | 5
Region XII’s Poverty Incidence
Declines to 37.3% in 2015
City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato – Region XII or the
SOCCSKSARGEN Region
recorded a significant decline
in the poverty incidence among
its population at 7.4 percentage
points, from 44.7 percent in 2012
to 37.3 percent in 2015. The
reduction in the region’s poverty
incidence, however, was not
enough to meet its Millennium
Development Goal of 23.4
percent in 2015. The drop in
poverty incidence was noted in
three (3) of the region’s four (4)
provinces. It declined to 24.6
percent in South Cotabato, 41.4
percent in Cotabato Province, and
48.0 percent in Sultan Kudarat.
In Sarangani, however, it grew
to 55.2 percent. Meanwhile, the
poverty incidence of Cotabato
City, an independent component
city, declined to 31.6 percent.
The report on the region’s poverty
incidence was presented by the
Philippine Statistics Authority
(PSA) during its press conference
on the 2015 Full Year Official
Poverty Statistics in Quezon City
on October 27, 2016.
The reduction in Region XII’s
poverty incidence reflected similar
trends in the entire country, which
saw the total proportion of poor
population dropping to 21.6
percent in 2015 from 25.2 percent.
While its poverty level among its
population was still considered
high, Region XII, together with
Davao Region or Region XI,
By: Evie A. Cabulanan, NEDA XII-DRD
recorded the largest reduction in
poverty incidence in the entire
country. CALABARZON
or Region IV-A breached the
double-digit level, cutting down
its poverty incidence level to 9.1
percent.
In the statement of NEDA
Undersecretary General
Rosemarie G. Edillon, as
delivered by Director Reynaldo
R. Cancio of the NEDA National
Policy and Planning Staff, she
attributed the good performance
of the country in improving its
poverty situation to generally
low and stable inflation rate,
improved incomes, and higher
employment rates during the
period. Major poverty reduction
programs of government, such
as the Conditional Cash Transfer
(CCT) or the Pantawid Pamilyang
Pilipino Program (4Ps), also
significantly augmented the
income of the poorest households
and accorded the beneficiaries
some resiliency to weather certain
shocks.
The rate of poverty reduction
could have been faster, if not for
the major shocks brought by the
natural calamities, such as the
intermittent heavy rains and the
El Niño which adversely affected
agricultural production, rural
incomes and food prices.
Usec Edillon emphasized that
there is still a lot of work ahead
to keep the momentum of
reducing the country’s poverty,
especially to the lagging regions
in Mindanao and the agriculture
sector. In addition, to sustain
the improved status of poverty
incidence througout the country,
it is important that government
influence the business climate to
create more job opportunities,
boost competitivenes of
the productive sectors,
improve access to financing,
ease restrictions on foreign
investments, reform in agricultural
policy like focusing on food
security instead of self sufficiency,
and safety nets for farmers who
may be potentially displaced.
The foregoing recommendations
are expected to be considered
in crafting the Philippine
Development Plan, 2017-2022
at the national level and the
Regional Development Plan at the
regional level. As per directive
of the President, the plan shall be
guided by the long-term vision of
the country which is AmBisyon
Natin 2040, the Sustainable
Development Goals, and the
0 to10 Agenda of the Duterte
Administration which shall lay
the foundation for the Filipino to
enjoy a “matatag, maginhawa, at
panatag na buhay.”

6. 6 | Regional Development Updates | October - December 2016
AmBisyon Natin 2040 gets
support from Region XII
By: MINDANEWS
General Santos City – Region
XII stakeholders have pledged full
support to the flagship AmBisyon
Natin 2040 as an aspiration and
development vision for residents
and the country in the next 25
years.
Local government and community
leaders, officials of government
agencies, non-government
organizations and other multi-
sectoral groups committed
to ensure that necessary
interventions would be in place to
facilitate its full realization.
They issued the commitment
during the regional launching of
AmBisyon Natin 2040, which is
a “collective long-term vision of
the Filipino people for themselves
and the country.”
Reynaldo Cancio, Director of
NEDA’s National Policy and
Planning Staff, said the initiative
presents the aspirations for the
future of the Filipino people.
He said it was drawn from the
findings of a series of focused-
group discussions nationwide and
a survey commissioned by the
agency.
“A very big majority or almost
80 percent (of the respondents)
said they want a simple and
comfortable life,” he said.
In specific terms, by 2040, a
family should have its own house
and lot, car, capable of sending all
children to school and can afford
to travel for vacations.
The ideal monthly income for
households by then should be
around P120,000.
Cancio said these could be
realized through government
interventions, especially on the
socioeconomic aspect.
“That means that we have to
double or even triple the per
capita income of our countrymen
to reach their aspirations,” he said.
Arturo G. Valero, NEDA Region
XII Director, said the realization
of AmBisyon Natin 2040 does
not mean that there should be
increases in wages or salaries.
“The assumption is that, there
would be two wage earners then
per family. That is already a
reality right now wherein it is
common for both husbands and
wives to be employed,” he said.
One of the couples or both could
be into entrepreneurial activities
The AmBisyon Natin 2040 launching in Cotabato City on November 23, 2017.

7. October - December 2016 | Regional Development Updates | 7
or business ventures as well, he
said.
In response to the AmBisyon
Natin 2040 vision, President
Rodrigo R. Duterte had laid out
the 0 to 10-point socioeconomic
agenda that “echoes the dreams of
the Filipino people for a Matatag,
Maginhawa at Panatag na Buhay.”
The President also signed
Executive Order No. 5, approving
and adopting AmBisyon
Natin 2040 to be the basis of
development planning for the next
four administrations.
Another regional launching of the
initiative took place on November
23, 2016 in Cotabato City.
Aside from the launching, Valero
said a series of orientations will
be conducted for other groups,
especially the youth, “who will be
living AmBisyon Natin 2040 in
their lifetime.”
The AmBisyon Natin 2040 launching in General Santos City on November 22, 2017.

8. 8 | Regional Development Updates | October - December 2016
RD Grace Belgado-Saqueton of Civil
Service Commission RO XII awards
the Certificate of Recognition to
NEDA RO XII Maturity Level 2 under
the PRIME-HRM. In picture (L-R),
Dir. Edna N. Mahinay of CSC FO-
SarGen; Dir. Josefina G. Buenbrazo
of CSC FO-Sultan Kudarat; Dir.
TeresitaAntolin of CSC FO-Cotabato
City; RD Saqueton; SAO Lalain M.
Sajelan; and AO IV Esperanza Z.
dela Cruz of NEDA RO XII.
Cotabato City – The NEDA
Regional Office XII was
conferred a Certificate of
Recognition by the Civil
Service Commission Regional
Office XII for meeting the
requirements for Maturity
Level 2 of the three core
systems under the Program to
Institutionalize Meritocracy and
Excellence in Human Resource
Management (PRIME-
HRM). The core systems are
Recruitment, Selection and
Placement (RSP), Learning
and Development (L & D), and
Rewards and Recognition (R &
R).
In the CSC XII communication
dated 4 November 2016, the
Office was recognized by the
Commission for its “concerted
effort in elevating public
human resource management to
a higher Maturity Level.”
The NEDA XII award was
received by representatives
Lalaine M. Sajelan, Supervising
Administrative Officer, and
Esperanza Z. Dela Cruz,
Administrative Officer IV, on
behalf of Regional Director
Arturo G. Valero, during the
Recognition Ceremony held on
25 November 2016 at the CSC
XII Conference Hall, Cotabato
City.
Earlier this year in Koronadal
City, NEDA XII was awarded
the first Certificate of
Recognition for PRIME-HRM
Maturity Level II in the area
of Performance Management
System (PMS) and for making
PMS a part of the culture of
performance and accountability
in the bureaucracy.
In her inspirational message,
the CSC XII Regional Director,
Grace Belgado-Saqueton,
acknowledged the efforts
of the seven awardees from
SOCCSKSARGEN Region
whom she considered the
“premier” or the “pioneers”
for PRIME-HRM Maturity
Level II. She challenged the
agencies to move to the next
level and to serve as role
models towards meritocracy
and excellence in HRM. Other
awardees were the Department
of Trade and Industry XII,
Local Government Units of
Kidapawan and Tacurong,
and Local Water Districts of
General Santos City, Midsayap,
and Polomolok.
NEDA XII Receives PRIME-HRM
Maturity Level II Recognition from
CSC XII
By: Lalaine M. Sajelan, NEDA XII-FAD

9. October - December 2016 | Regional Development Updates | 9
City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato - The NEDA Regional
Office (NRO) XII once again won
second place in the recent 2016
Best Gulayan sa Opisina, Phase 4.
The contest was spearheaded by
the Regional Nutrition Committee
(RNC) XII to promote the value
of nutrition and to showcase
measures to address hunger and
malnutrition.
On behalf of NRO XII RD
Arturo G. Valero, ARD Noel E.
Quiratman, together with the
officers of the Organization of
NEDA Employees (ONE) XII
Angelina C. Soriano and Desiree
T. Jacinto, received the second
place prize during the 2016
Regional Nutrition Awarding
Ceremony held at The Farm@
Carpenter Hill, Koronadal
City on October 27, 2016. The
Department of Education (DepEd)
Regional Office XII won first
place.
Aside from the Gulayan sa
Opisina, RNC also awarded the
most outstanding provinces,
cities, and municipalities for
exemplary effectiveness and
efficiency in implementing
the nutrition program at the
at the local level. Pigcawayan
(Cotabato Province), Kiamba
(Sarangani), and Polomolok
(South Cotabato) were awarded as
Most Outstanding Municipalities.
South Cotabato was adjudged the
Most Outstanding Province for
2016.
Outstanding Barangay Nutrition
Scholars (BNS) were also
recognized by the RNC. Ms.
Junelia E. Domel of Barangay
New Iloilo of Tantangan, South
Cotabato was chosen as the Most
Outstanding Regional BNS. Ms.
Domel excelled in identifying
and locating targets, delivery of
basic nutrition services, achieving
program impact, and timeliness in
the submission of reports. The
Most Outstanding BNS at the
city level were the following: (a)
Ms. Violeta Flores of Barangay
City Heights, Gen. Santos City;
(b) Ms. Creamhield C. Bation of
Barangay Linangkob, Kidapawan
City; and (c) Ms. Joy F. Sobredilla
of Barangay San Jose, Koronadal
City.
The Best Gulayan sa Barangay
was won by Barangay Upper
Klinan, Pololomok, South
Cotabato, while the Best
Breastfeeding Station in the
Region was awarded to Tulunan,
Cotabato.
Ms. Arceli M. Latonio, Regional
Nutrition Program Coordinator
XII and RNC Secretary, said that
recognizing the efforts of various
nutrition partners and stakeholders
will encourage the sustained
promotion of correct nutrition
among the region’s population and
make them productive members
of society.
NEDA XII Adjudged Second in
the Gulayan sa Opisina, Phase 4
Contest
By: Evie A. Cabulanan, NEDA XII-DRD
ARD Noel E. Quiratman of NEDA RO XII received the 2nd Place prize during the 2016
Regional Nutrition Awarding Ceremony on October 27, 2016. In picture (L-R), Ms.
Ma. Lourdes Ines of DepEd XII; RNPC and RNC Secretary Arceli M. Latonio of NNC
XII; Dr. Fatima A. Emban of DOH XII; ARD Quiratman; Angelina C. Soriano, and
Desiree T. Jacinto of NEDA-ONE XII.

10. RDC XII Celebrates Road Safety Day,
Orients Pupils in General Santos City
By: Apollo Y. Manlawe, NEDA XII-DRD
General Santos City –A total of
85 pupil leaders and 17 teachers
from 17 public schools in
General Santos City benefited
from the Regional Development
Council (RDC) XII Road Safety
Advocacy – Technical Working
Group (RSA-TWG) orientation
on road safety, held at East Asia
Royale Hotel in General Santos
City on October 21, 2016. The
celebration carried the theme,
Kaalaman sa Daan, Kaligtasan
ng Mamamayan.
In his opening message, Atty.
Armando Clarin, who represented
General Santos City Mayor
Ronnel C. Rivera, thanked RDC
XII for the orientation on road
safety and encouraged the Council
to continue the advocacy not
only during the Road Safety Day
celebration but on a regular basis.
Atty. Clarin said that “lack
of knowledge on road safety
contributed to a number of road
accidents and tragedies in the
city.”
Acting RDC XII Chairperson
and NEDA XII Regional Director
Arturo G. Valero expressed his
gratitude to the members of the
RSA-TWG and the sponsors
of the activity. “Educating all
road users is one of the pillars of
the Decade of Action on Road
Safety of the United Nations,”
he said. “Road safety advocacy
is a global action, that is why
RDC XII declared October 21 as
Road Safety Day in Region XII,”
Valero further explained.
SPO2 Moreto Diaz Abayan, Jr.
10 | Regional Development Updates | October - December 2016

11. October - December 2016 | Regional Development Updates | 11
of the Philippine National Police
presented statistical data on road
accidents and road safety tips.
Mr. Eustaquio D. dela Cruz of
the Yellow Bus Line taught the
participants on the appropriate
behavior in waiting and in riding
buses or other types of vehicles.
RDC XII Private Sector
Representative (PSR) of
Koronadal City and RSA-TWG
Chairperson Nestor S. Lumawig
and Engr. Artemio dela Cruz
of TESDA XII shared their
knowledge on road signages,
safety in going to school, and in
riding motor vehicles.
The activity is part of the Road
Safety Day celebration in the
region as declared by RDC XII
through Resolution No. 69, Series
of 2013. This declaration is the
region’s support to UN global
launch of the “Decade of Action
for Road Safety, 2011-2020,” and
the Republic of the Philippines’
Proclamation No. 159, Series of
2011.
The activity was made possible
through the collaboration of RDC
XII RSA-TWG, City Government
of General Santos, MLhullier,
Yellow Bus Line, Mahintana
Foundation, and Dole Philippines.

12. 12 | Regional Development Updates | October - December 2016
The RDC XII seal is composed of the
following figures:
Central Figure:
The white circle with an attached white
triangle to form a human figure, two
white arrowheads and two golden hands.
It signifies that the primal concern and
focus (arrowheads) of the Council is to
oversee (golden hands) the welfare of
humanity (human figure).
Median Figures:
The 1st and 4th Quadrant (Red and
Gray Gear with interlocking teeth and
superimposed nine small white dots):
The gray gear with four teeth symbolizes
the four provinces (Cotabato, South
Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Sarangani)
while the red gear with five teeth
symbolizes the five cities, (Gen. Santos,
Kidapawan, Koronadal, Tacurong and
Cotabato). The whole figure in the
quadrants is summed by the nine white
small dots in semi-circle symbolizing the
9 major local government units (LGUs)
that comprised the region.
The interlocking teeth of the two gears
symbolizes the complementing initiatives
of all LGUs in the region to set the
economy in constant activity.
The Upper part of the 2nd Quadrant (Blue
and white Salakot) and Lower part of
the 2nd Quadrant (White laurel with nine
leaves):
The figures symbolize the unique
characteristics and multi-ethnicity
(Salakot) of the region and that it
effortlessly continue to promote peace
and understanding (laurel)
amidst diversity.
The 3rd Quadrant (Map of the region in
green over a white background):
The figures symbolize the region’s drive
to maintain its ecological integrity (green
map) amidst the growing threat of
climate change (white background, i.e.,
coral bleaching).
Outer Figure:
The name of the council (Regional
Development Council XII) over a blue
arrow and the name of the region
(SOCCSKSARGEN) over a white arrow:
The rotating white and blue arrows
symbolizes that the region and the
Council are helping each other in ensuring
that their relationship will remain
dynamic.
THE REGIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
COUNCIL (RDC) XII SEAL
By: Romeo C. Nebrija, NEDA XII-PFPD