1. SOCCSKSARGEN
Economy
Expands
by 5%
Manufacturing contributed the highest share of 24.5% to the total GRDP
while Construction posted the highest growth rate of 25.8%, contributing
8.1%.

2. 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
LIBERTY B. ARUMPAC
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
EVIE A. CABULANAN
GWYNETH GRACE B. COLLADO
JUDD NICHOL L. LEONAR
Photographer
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
Layout Artist
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
Contributors
PSA XII
Photographs: tumbler.com,
gensantimes.com, and TESDA XII
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responsibility on unpublished and unsolicited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.
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suggestions? Send your letters with complete
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CONTENTS
RDC XII confirms NCCA, CHR XII as
SNVM
SOCCSKSARGEN Economy
Expands by 5%
RPMC XII Monitors 17 Projects for
the 2nd
Quarter of 2017
On our cover is the
SOCCSKSARGEN 2016 Report
presented during the Regional
Economy News Conference on
May 14, 2017 in General Santos
City, led by Philippine Statistics
Authority XII. The pictures of
pineapple and tuna depict the
leading food manufacturing
products which contributed the
highest share of 24.5% to the
total GRDP, and the construction
picture which suggests that
construction posted the highest
growth rate of 25.8% in 2016.
The latter also posted 8.1% share
to the regional economy.
33
Koronadal, Tupi got the Kalasag
National Award
RDC XII supports Orientation of
SUCs and HEIs on Responsible
Parenthood and Reproductive
Health Law
SOCCSKSARGEN Region posts
1.7% Inflation in April 2017
RDC XII Supports the 2017 Sox
Regional Skills Competition
Volume 15 | Issue No. 2 | April - June 2017
NEDA XII Staff Garnered a 100%
passing rate for EnP Examination
44
55
66
88
99
1010
1111
2 | Regional Development Updates | April - June 2017

3. April - June 2017 | Regional Development Updates | 3
City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato – SOCCKSARGEN
Region’s economy hikes
up by 5.0 percent in 2016
as measured by the Gross
Regional Domestic Product
(GRDP). This was the highlight
in the concluded news
conference conducted by the
Philippine Statistics Authority
(PSA) Regional Statistical
Services Office (RSSO) XII at
the East Asia Royale Hotel in
General Santos City on May
4, 2017. The news conference
was simultaneously conducted
in the 17 regions across the
country.
The members of the panel
were PSA XII Regional
Director, Atty. Maqtahar
L. Manulon and NEDA XII
Regional Director Arturo G.
Valero. Assisting them were
DTI XII Regional Director
Ibrahim K. Guiamadel and Ms.
Reinelda P. Adriano, Chief of
the Fisheries Statistics Division
of the PSA Central Office.
RD Manulon presented the
highlights of the region’s
economic performance in
2016. He made a detailed
presentation on how
each industry and sub-
industry contributed to the
region’s economic outputs
in 2016. Across the 17
regions, he announced that
SOCCSKSARGEN ranked 10th
in terms of growth rate and 9th
in terms of Gross Value Added
(GVA) contribution to the
national GDP.
RD Valero discussed the
implications of the 2016 GRDP
estimates to the region’s
development initiatives. He
was happy to note that despite
the slump in the performance
in Agriculture, Hunting,
Forestry and Fishing (AHFF),
which was greatly affected
by the El Niño, the other
sectors, particularly Industry
and Services, performed
well and pulled the region’s
economy up to register a
5.0 percent growth in 2016,
faster than the 3.3 percent
growth recorded in 2015. He
called on the Department of
Trade and Industry (DTI) and
the business sector to put
up more manufacturing and
processing plants to give more
value-added to the products
produced in the region rather
than exporting them in raw
form. He also stressed the
importance of developing the
region’s thriving Micro, Small
and Medium Enterprises
(MSMEs) especially in light
of the recently launched Roll-
on/Roll-off (RORO) service
between Indonesia and the
Philippines which would
cover the route from Bitung,
Indonesia - Davao City -
General Santos City. He urged
the business sector to upgrade
and produce world class
products to be competitive
with other imported goods.
He remains positive that with
a more stable and favorable
weather this year, the region
SOCCSKSARGEN ... page 4
PSA XII Regional Director Maqtahar L. Manulon during the presentation of the
region’s economic performance on May 4, 2017 at East Asia Royale Hotel, General
Santos City (Photo Source: PSA XII).
SOCCSKSARGEN Economy Expands by 5%
By: Edward Donald F. Eloja, PSA XII

4. 4 | Regional Development Updates | April - June 2017
will outpace its 2016 economic
performance.
An open forum ensued
after the presentations. Ms.
Catherine T. Apelacio of
the Philippine Information
Agency (PIA) served as the
moderator. RD Guiamadel
provided substantial inputs on
the prospects and direction
of the region’s trade and
industry especially considering
the Association of South
East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
integration.
City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato – The Regional
Development Council (RDC)
XII confirmed the membership
of the National Commission for
Culture and the Arts (NCCA),
and the Commission on
Human Rights (CHR) XII as
Special Non-Voting Members
of the Council for the term
2016-2019, during the 58th
Full
Council meeting on June 14,
2017 in Koronadal City.
The NCCA expressed its
interest to be a member of
the Council through Ms.
Adelina Suemith, Chief of
NCCA’s Project Monitoring
and Evaluation Division, when
she presented Budayaw,
Celebrating Cultural Diversity
of BIMP-EAGA Region during
the 57th
RDC XII meeting on
March 15, 2017.
By: Apollo Y. Manlawe, NEDA XII-DRD
SOCCSKSARGEN ... from page 3
NCCA Chairman, Mr. Virgilio
S. Almario, later sent an official
letter of request to the RDC XII
Secretariat on the matter.
The RDC XII - Regional Social
Development Committee
was tasked by the Council
to deliberate on the request.
During its 2nd
Quarter Meeting
on 31 May 2017 in Koronadal
City, the Committee agreed to
favorably endorse the same
to RDC XII. The Council then
confirmed the membership of
NCCA as SNVM through RDC
XII Resolution No. 62, Series
of 2017, passed during its 58th
Regular Meeting on 14 June
2017 in Koronadal City.
RDC XII Chairperson and
General Santos City Mayor
Ronnel C. Rivera administered
the oath-taking of CHR XII
Regional Director Atty. Erlan P.
Deluvio who was also present
during the Council’s 58th
Regular Meeting.
Section 3 of the Executive
Order No. 325, Series of
1996, allows the inclusion of
Special Non-Voting Members
in the Council, subject to the
concurrence of majority of its
regular members.
RDC XII confirms
NCCA, CHR XII as
SNVM
The news conference
was attended by media
practitioners from 13 radio
stations, 6 newspapers, and
3 television stations in the
region. Also present were
representatives from other
government agencies like
DA, BFAR, DPWH, DSWD,
DENR, PFDA, MinDA and
MGB including those from the
private sector such as SFAII
and the General Santos City
Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, who also served as
resource persons.
The GRDP news conference
is held annually by the PSA to
elicit the support of the media
in disseminating statistics
and other information to the
general public. This year’s
news conference, however,
was held three months earlier
to respond to the clamour
of the planning agencies
for the early release of the
GRDP. (Source: http://psa12.
ph/index.php/en/84-publications/
press-releases/413-press-
release-soccsksargen-economy-
expands-by-5-0-percent-psa-xii-
holds-news-conference)
RDC XII Chair Ronnel C. Rivera administered the oath-taking of CHR XII Regional
Director Erlan P. Deluvio as Special Non-Voting Member of the Council.

5. April - June 2017 | Regional Development Updates | 5
SOCCSKSARGEN Region posts
1.7% inflation in April 2017
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato – The annual inflation rate or the year-on-year change in the
consumer price index (CPI) in the SOCCSKSARGEN Region in April 2017 was estimated at 1.7
percent, which was lower than the previous month’s 2.9 percent. The increase in rate means
that the prices of goods and services in the region in April 2017 were 1.7 percent higher on all
commodity groups compared to their prices in April 2016.
During the period, prices of all commodity groups posted increases, except for Communication
which retained its previous year’s index of 89.5. Faster increase in prices were noted in Alcoholic
Beverages and Tobacco (3.0 percent); followed by, Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other
Fuels (2.6%); Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages (1.9%); and, Education (1.0%). On the
other hand, minimal increases were recorded in Health (0.7%); Transport (0.7%); Clothing and
Footwear (0.6%); Restaurant and Miscellaneous Goods and Services (0.6%); and, Furnishing and
Household Equipment and Routine Maintenance of the House (0.5%).
South Cotabato had the highest inflation rate in the region in April 2017 at 2.7 percent, followed
by Cotabato Province (1.9%), and Cotabato City (1.8%). On the other hand, Sarangani had the
lowest inflation rate during the period at 0.6 percent.
By: Nazar A. Mohammadsha, PSA XII
SOCCSKSARGEN Region ... page 11

6. 6 | Regional Development Updates | April - June 2017
RPMC XII Monitors Seventeen (17) Projects
for the 2nd Quarter of 2017
By: Judd Nichol L. Leonar, NEDA XII-DRD
City of Koronadal, South Cotabato – The Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) XII
monitored a total of 17 projects in SOCCSKSARGEN Region during the 2nd Quarter of 2017. This
was reported by RPMC Chairperson and NEDA XII RD Arturo G. Valero, during the 58th Regular
Meeting of RDC XII on 14 June 2017 in Koronadal City.
Done through two (2) separate
regular field monitoring visits,
the 17 projects monitored are
in the provinces of
South Cotabato and
Sarangani, and the
cities of Koronadal
and General
Santos. The
projects monitored
are: (a) roads,
new bridge along
the GSC Western
Circumferential
road, and
school building
construction
projects
implemented by
DPWH Regional
Office XII and
South Cotabato
District Engineering
Office (DEO); (b)
Completion of the
Philippine Halal
Laboratory Building
project of DOST XII;
and (c) the General
Santos Airport
Development
project of CAAP-
Central Office.
The areas covered,
type of projects
visited, as well as the date of visit and number of projects
monitored are shown below:
The RPMC XII Monitoring team during their visit to Surallah-Lake Sebu-Maitum
Road, Lemfenek Section on May 10, 2017.

7. April - June 2017 | Regional Development Updates | 7
recommendations were agreed
upon by the Committee based
on the discussions of the major
findings and observations
emanating from the two (2)
monitoring visits. In addition,
the Committee also passed
four (4) resolutions which were
duly supported and endorsed
by the Regional Development
Council XII during its 58th
Regular Meeting on 14 June
2017 in Koronadal City.
The said 2nd
quarter meeting
cum PSS of the RPMC was
attended by four (4) out of
the seven (7) members of
the Committee, and seven
(7) representatives from the
implementing agencies and
LGUs.
Major issues/problems
confronting the 17 projects
were discussed during
the 2nd
Quarter RPMC XII
Problem-Solving Session
(PSS) on May 31, 2017 in
Koronadal City. Some of these
problems include inadequate,
inappropriate and improper
placement of early warning
signs, non-compliance of some
contractors with the approved
minimum wage order in the
region and Occupational
Safety and Health Standards
(OSHS), and slow performance
of some contractors due
to inadequate equipment/
manpower and inclement
weather, which caused delay
in the completion of some
projects. Nevertheless, most
of these problems identified
had been addressed and acted
upon by the implementers at
the regional level as reported
during the said RPMC-PSS.
Likewise, a total of seven (7)
The construction of Banwalan Bridge
II is 41.12% completed as of May 15,
2017. The bridge is part of the Php120
Million Road upgrading with New
Bridge, Construction of Circumferential
Road, Airport to Fishport (Western
Section, K1671+780 - K1673+197 with
Exception (Bridge Component) Bridge;
K1671+842-K1671+902 in General
Santos City.
(Below) The Php48.7 Million construction
of 2 units 4-storey 12-classroom
School Building at Koronadal National
Comprehensive High School, Koronadal
City is expected to be completed in
December 2017.

8. 8 | Regional Development Updates | April - June 2017
City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato - The City of
Koronadal and Barangay
Polacion of Tupi, South
Cotabato got the coveted
Kalamidad at Sakuna
Labanan, Sariling Galing ang
Kaligtasan (KALASAG) Award
on June 8, 2017 during the
18th
Gawad Kalasag National
Awarding Ceremony at
the Philippine International
Convention Center, Pasay
City.
The city of Koronadal won 3rd
place for City Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management
(DRRM) Council for
Independent/Component City
Category, while Barangay
Poblacion, Tupi, South
Cotabato bagged the 1st
place
for the Barangay DRRM
Committee (Urban) Category.
The Annual KALASAG award
is the country’s scheme
for recognizing various
stakeholders who design and
implement DRRM programs
that protect and shield high-
risk communities against
hazards and make them more
capable in addressing their
vulnerabilities and in coping
against disasters.
Undersecretary for Civil,
Veterans and Retiree Affairs
Eduardo D. del Rosario,
representing the NDRRMC
Chairperson and Defense
Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana,
led the conferment of the 18th
Gawad Kalasag Awards to
59 individuals and groups
together with the Chairperson
of the National Gawad Kalasag
(GK) Search Committee and
DILG Officer-In-Charge USec
Catalino S. Cuy, and NDRRMC
Executive Director and OCD
Administrator USec Ricardo B.
Jalad.
For the 18th
GK, nine (9) Local
Koronadal, Tupi got the
Kalasag National Award
By: Apollo Y. Manlawe, NEDA XII-DRD
DRRM Councils, two (2)
individuals, thirteen (13)
groups/institutions and two
(2) hall of fame awardees
were recognized for their
outstanding contributions
in DRRM and humanitarian
assistance.
In picture: NDRRMC XII Chairperson and OCD XII Regional Director Minda C. Morante (2nd from left), Executive Director and
OCD Administrator USec Ricardo B Jalad (3rd from left) with Koronadal City Administrator Cyrus Jose Ubano (4th from left)
and Mayor Peter B. Miguel (with trophy) received the Gawad KALASAG during the 18th Gawad KALASAG National Awarding
Ceremony at the Philippine International Convention Center, Pasay City on June 8, 2017. (Photo source: https://www.facebook.
com/NDRRMC/)
Kagawad Vicente L. Trabado (6th from left)
and Barangay Captain Joselito Yabut (with
trophy) received the Annual KALASAG
Award - 1st
place for Barangay DRRMC
Urban Category, for Barangay Poblacion,
Tupi, South Cotabato on June 8, 2017
during the awarding ceremony.

9. April - June 2017 | Regional Development Updates | 9
City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato – The Regional
Development Council (RDC) XII
passed Resolution No. 61, Series
of 2017, entitled “Requesting
the Department of Health (DOH)
XII and the Commission on
Population (POPCOM) XII to
Orient Guidance Counsellors,
Gender and Development (GAD)
Focal Persons and Health Service
Personnel of private Higher
Education Institutions (HEIs)
and the State Universities and
Colleges (SUCs), on Responsible
Parenhood and Reproductive
Health (RPRH) Law,” during its
58th
regular meeting conducted on
June 14, 2017 in Koronadal City.
The resolution emanated from
the discussion during the
second quarter meeting of the
Regional Social and Development
Committee (RSDC) XII on May
31, 2017. Ms. Alicia Manondog
of Sultan Kudarat State University
shared her observation that many
pregnancy cases happened
particularly among first and
second year college students.
Hence, SUCs and private
HEIs need to know the RPRH
Law, especially on adolescent
sexual and reproductive health
which is one of the RPRH key
result areas, viz: a) maternal
and neonatal health, b) family
planning (FP), c) adolescent
sexual and reproductive health,
d) sexually transmitted infections/
human immunodeficiency virus/
acquired immunodeficiency
syndrome (STI/HIV/AIDS), and e)
gender- based violence (GPB).
Based on the 2011-2014
Philippine Statistics Authority
(PSA) data, around 12% of the
total births in the Philippines,
were born by mothers 10-19
years old, and the remaining
88% by mothers 20-49 years
old. The data also showed that
about one in every ten women of
child-bearing age is a teenager.
Teenage pregnancy among 17
to 19 age group has a higher
prevalence compared to the 10 to
16 age bracket.
Teenage pregnancy in the
region showed fluctuating trends.
From 4,744 in 2011, the level
decreased to 4,503 in 2012 and
4,554 in 2013. However, a sharp
increase was noted in 2014 with
4,894 or a growth rate of 7.47%.
The increasing prevalence of
teenage pregnancy is one of
RDC XII supports Orientation of SUCs and HEIs on
Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Law
By: Evie A. Cabulanan, NEDA XII-DRD
the challenges faced by the
region that could impact on
demographic transition needed
to achieve a sustained economic
growth resulting from a decrease
in the non-working persons in
the total population. One of
the priority strategies identified
in the Regional Development
Plan, 2017-2022 is to promote
adolescent health and
development through responsible
sexuality and effective life skills
among young people. The
strategy is consistent with the
Regional Population Management
Strategic Plan (RPMSP). Hence,
the orientation for key personnel
of SUCs and HEIs could help
address the issue and reach out
to the affected population.

10. City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato – The Regional
Development Council XII
passed Resolution No. 65,
Series of 2017, “Supporting
the Conduct of 2017 SOX
Regional Skills Competition in
General Santos City” during
its 58th
Regular Meeting at The
Farm @ Carpenter Hill on June
14, 2017.
The SOX Regional Skills
Competition 2017 scheduled in
September 2017 is an avenue
to select the official entry of
Region XII for the upcoming
Mindanao Zonal Battle of the
Best on December 1, 2017
in Davao City. The winner in
the zonal battle will represent
the island of Mindanao in
the Philippine National Skills
Competition, and the National
Level winner will represent the
country in the 2018 ASEAN
Skills Competition in Bangkok,
Thailand.
The regional competition
will be hosted by the City
Government of General Santos
and will cover the provinces
of Sarangani, Sultan Kudarat,
and South Cobatato, as well
as the cities of Kidapawan and
Cotabato.
During the said competition,
the crowd can expect a
showcase of talents and skills
on various trade qualifications
adopted and aligned with the
ASEAN Skills Competition
standards.
Moreover, the regional
competition will likewise
harness the potentials and
capabilities of the youth in
the region and shall further
boost their awareness and
appreciation in acquiring
technical knowledge through
the Technical Vocational
Education and Training
(TVET).
Engr. Richard Amparo, the
Provincial Director of TESDA
Sarangani, mentioned during
the RSDC XII 2nd
Quarter
meeting on 31 May 2017
in Koronadal City, that the
competition aims to promote
the development of quality
vocational/technical and
work values among the
youth and skilled workers,
to foster cooperation among
stakeholders, and to recognize
workmanship and excellence
of Filipino worker.
Engr. Amparo further added
that among the areas for
competition are automotive
technology, beauty therapy,
cabinet making, cooking,
electrical installation
technology, electronics,
fashion technology,
graphic design, plumbing
and heating, refrigeration
and air-conditioning,
hairdressing, industrial
automation, information
network cabling, IT network
system administration, IT
software solution for business,
mechanical engineering-CAD,
mechatronics, restaurant
service, web design and
welding.
In closing, he mentioned that
in the 2016 ASEAN Skills
Competition, the Philippines
was able to get a gold medal
in the mechanical engineering
design-CAD, silver medal
in IT software Solution for
business, and bronze medal
in electronics, mechatronics,
web design, refrigeration and
air conditioning. The country
is also a recipient of medallion
of excellence for graphics
design, industrial automation,
IT network systems
administration, and welding.
RDC XII Supports
2017 Sox Regional
Competiton
By: Gwyneth Grace B. Collado, NEDA XII-DRD
10 | Regional Development Updates | April - June 201710 | Regional Development Updates | April - June 2017
Provincial Director Engr. Richard Amparo of TESDA Sarangani-Gensan presented
the SOX Regional Skills Competition during the RSDC XII Meeting on May 31,
2017 in Koronadal City.

11. April - June 2017 | Regional Development Updates | 11
• Betque, Aurel Raymond P.
• Clave, Joseph Didius L.
• Collado, Gwyneth Grace B.
• Darle, Kate C.
• Hatague, Roy B.
• Leonar, Judd Nichol L.
• Sajo, Myra L.
• Serrano, Ruby Abegail C.
• Vargas, Melissa Gabrielle H.
NEDA XII Staff Garnered a 100%
passing rate for EnP Examination
By: Gwyneth Grace B. Collado, NEDA XII-DRD
City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato – The National
Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA) XII staff
garnered a 100% passing rate
in the Environmental Planners
examination conducted on
June 7-8, 2017 at Brokenshire,
Davao City.
The nine (9) staff who
successfully passed the said
examination are the following:
In April 2017, the Peso
Purchasing Power (PPP)
in the SOCCSKSARGEN
Region was estimated
at 64 centavos, down by
a centavo compared to
the 65 centavos during the
same month of the previous
year. The highest PPP in
the region this month was
recorded in Cotabato City
at 69 centavos, followed by
South Cotabato (Php 0.68),
Sultan Kudarat (Php 0.67)
and Sarangani (Php 0.65).
On the other hand, the lowest
PPP in the region was noted
in Cotabato Province at 58
centavos.
SOCCSKSARGEN
Region ... from page 5
The abovementioned staff
were encouraged and
inspired to take the said
examination in response to
the RDC XII Resolution No.
46, Series of 2017, entitled
“Encouraging Regional Line
Agencies to consider having
the Planning Officers of their
Respective Offices to take
the Environmental Planner
Licensure Examination.”
Based on the result posted by
the Professional Regulation
Commissions (PRC), only
42.49 percent passed out of
the 1,739 examinees.

12. 12 | Regional Development Updates | April - June 2017