1. Sec. Lapeña presides 3rd
RTF-ELCAC Meeting;
TESDA XII RD selected as TWG Chair
Sox conducts forum on SDG 12: Sustainable Consumption
and Production in celebration of 2019 EFLW

2. Editor-in-Chief
RD TERESITA SOCORRO C. RAMOS
Associate Editor
ARD NOEL E. QUIRATMAN
Contributing Editors
MA. LULU E. VALENCIA
MARIA FELICIDAD R. GUERRERO
GUILLERMO R. MANRIQUE, JR.
GWYNETH GRACE B. COLLADO
LALAINE M. SAJELAN
RDU Focal Persons
EDEN F. RIDAO
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
EVIE A. CABULANAN
MELISSA GABRIELLE H. VARGAS
MICHAEL BJ S. ABELLANA
JOSEPH DIDIUS L. CLAVE
MYRA L. SAJO
Photographer
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
Layout Artist
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
Contributors
PIA 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responsibility on unpublished and unsolicited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.
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.
CONTENTS
Task Force to End Local Communist
Armed Conflict already in 4 Provinces,
4 Cities and 45 Municipalities in
SOCCSKSARGEN
Sec. Lapeña presides 3rd
RTF-ELCAC
Meeting; TESDA XII RD selected as
TWG Chair
Aids to former rebels in Region XII
exceed P7M
On the cover is Secretary Isidro S.
Lapeña, CORDS for Region XII
and Chairperson of RTF-ELCAC,
presiding its 3rd
Meeting on October
25, 2019 in Koronadal City. Below
it is the Economic and Financial
Literacy Forum which was conducted
on November 13, 2019 in Koronadal
City.
33
RLUC XII conducts learning session on
RA 11038, visits Mt. Matutum Protected
Landscape (MMPL)
RSDC XII entry wins AmBisyon
Natin rendition competition
Volume 17 | Number 3 | October - November 2019
44
55
88
2 | Regional Development Updates | October - November 2019
99
Strong earthquakes jolt North Cotabato
66
Tagakaolo school of living traditions
opens in Sarangani1010
RDC XII, NCCA, and ONE brought
smiles to earthquake victims in Cotabato
Province
77

3. October - November 2019 | Regional Development Updates | 3
Sec. Lapeña presides 3rd
RTF-ELCAC Meeting;
TESDA XII RD selected as TWG Chair
KORONADAL CITY, South
Cotabato – Secretary Isidro
S. Lapeña of TESDA, newly
appointed Cabinet Officer for
Regional Development and
Security (CORDS), presided over
the 3rd
Meeting of Regional Task
Force to End Local Communist
Armed Conflict (RTF-ELCAC) of
Region XII on October 25, 2019
in Koronadal City. In the same
meeting, TESDA XII Regional
Director Rafael Y. Abrogar II was
selected as the Chairperson of the
RTF Technical Working Group
(TWG).
TESDA XII was elected by
majority of the RTF-ELCAC
XII members to lead the TWG
to expedite close coordination
between the TWG and the newly
appointed CORDS for Region
XII.
As specified in Section 3
of the Joint Memorandum
Circular (JMC) No. 01, series
of 2019, operationalizing the
implementation of Executive
Order (EO) No. 70, series of 2018
on Ending Local Communist
Armed Conflict, the TWG shall
serve as the RTF-ELCAC’s
technical arm in operationalizing
EO 70 at the regional level
and the clearing house for key
regional peace and development
proposals, including those
emanating from the Clusters/Lines
of Efforts (LOEs).
As for the other officers of the
RTF-ELCAC XII TWG, PBGen
By: Apollo Y. Manlawe, NEDA XII
TESDA XII ... page 4
Alfred S. Corpus, Regional
Director (RD) of Police Regional
Office XII, was chosen as RTF-
ELCAC’s vice chairperson for
security sector, and RD Eduardo
T. Marquez of the National
Intelligence Coordinating Agency
XII, as vice chairperson for the
civilian sector.
Members of the TWG include the
RDs of the Department of the
Interior and Local Government,
Department of Energy, National
Economic and Development
Authority, Armed Forces of
the Philippines Department of
Foreign Affairs, Department of
Trade and Industry, Office of the
Presidential Adviser on the Peace
Process, Philippine Information
Agency, TESDA, among others,
including two private sector
representatives or PSRs.
Acting RDC XII Chairperson
and NEDA XII RD Teresita
Socorro C. Ramos suggested that
TESDA Secretary Isidro S. Lapeña took his oath as Cabinet Officer for
Regional Development and Security (CORDS) on October 25, 2019 in
Koronadal City.
TESDA XII Regional Director Rafael
Y. Abrogar, II was voted by majority
of the RTF-ELCAC members to lead
the Technical Working Group.
for the 2 PSRs one shall come
from the PSRs of the Regional
Development Council (RDC) XII
and the other from the Regional
Peace and Order Council (RPOC)
XII.
For RDC XII, Mr. Carlito Y. Uy,
PSR of South Cotabato to RDC
XII, informed the body that the

4. In picture : (L-R) RPOC XII Head Secretariat and DILG XII Regional Director
Josephine C. Leysa with Ms. Jermie E. Yeager during the RTF-ELCAC XII Meeting.
4 | Regional Development Updates | October - November 2019
PSRs of the Council have earlier
agreed to waive their privilege
to sit in the TWG, in favor of
Retired Colonel Celestino F.
Desamito, Jr.. For RPOC XII, the
PSRs have yet to identify their
representative to the TWG. Once
identified, the name of the PSR
will be submitted by RPOC XII
secretariat to TESDA XII.
Task Force to End Local
Communist Armed
Conflict already in 4
Provinces, 4 Cities and
45 Municipalities in
SOCCSKSARGEN
By: Apollo Y. Manlawe, NEDA XII
Koronadal City, South Cotabato
– The Task Force to End Local
Communist Armed Conflict has
been organized in 4 provinces
– South Cotabato, Cotabato,
Sultan Kudarat, and Sarangani,
and 4 cities – General Santos,
Koronadal, Tacurong, and
Kidapawan, and 45 municipalities
of the region, as reported by
the Regional Task Force to End
Local Communist Armed Conflict
(RTF-ELCAC) Secretariat and
DILG XII Regional Director (RD)
Josephine C. Leysa during the
Regional Task Force’s 2nd
Meeting
on September 25, 2019 in
Koronadal City, South Cotabato.
According to RD Leysa the
different Task Forces are
currently crafting their respective
Implementation Plans. A Retooled
Community Support Program
(RCSP) Team at the local level is
envisioned to be created together
with the Local Peace Panel and
its engagement team. The RCSP
is supported by the Basic Service
Delivery Team, Citizenship and
Community Participation Team,
and the Peace, Law Enforcement
and Development Support
(PLEDS) Team.
During the said RTF-ELCAC
meeting, the RDC XII Secretariat
shared that the provisions of
EO 70, series of 2018, were
already mainstreamed in the
SOCCSKSARGEN RDP 2017-
2022 Mid Term Update. The
Council, during its 67th
Regular
and Reorganizational Meeting on
September 17, 2019 in General
Santos City, approved and adopted
the said Plan through RDC XII
Resolution No. 82, series of 2019.
Likewise, the priority
interventions supporting
the implementation of EO
70 were included in the
SOCCSKSARGEN Regional
Development Investment
Program, 2019-2022,
Executive Order 70, series of
2018, was signed by the President
to ensure a comprehensive
orchestration of related peace
efforts and initiatives of national
government agencies, local
government units and various
sectors of civil society.
TESDA XII ... from page 3
The meeting was the first one
presided by the new CORDS upon
his appointment.

5. October - November 2019 | Regional Development Updates | 5
RSDC XII entry wins AmBisyon Natin
rendition competition
By: Myra L. Sajo, NEDA XII
Koronadal, South Cotabato – The entry of the Regional Social Development Committee (RSDC) XII was
adjudged as winner in the AmBisyon Natin Rendition Competition during the 2019 Regional Development
Council (RDC) XII Week Celebration conducted on September 26-27, 2019 at Paraiso Verde Resort,
Koronadal City. The Department of Education (DepEd) XII chorale group represented RSDC XII. The
group sang the AmBisyon Natin song with grace and style. The entry of the Macro Economy Development
and Finance Committee (MEDAFC) XII was awarded 1st
Runner Up in the same competition. The entries
of the Economic Development
Committee (EDC) XII and
the Infrastructure and Utilities
Committee (InfraCom) XII came
in as 2nd
and 3rd
Runners Up,
respectively.
The Ambisyon Natin Rendition
Competition was one of the
activities held during the 2019
RDC XII Week Celebration
which was participated in by the
agencies belonging to the four (4)
sectoral committees of RDC XII,
namely: the RSDC, InfraCom,
EDC and MEDAFC.
Each group was composed of
five (5) to six (6) members. They
were given the leeway to choose
the genre for their rendition of
the AmBisyon Natin song, such
as rock, classical, opera and pop
music. Their performance was
judged based on the following
criteria: (1) Technique (Diction,
Blending and Balance) – 50%,
(2) Artistry and Musicality
(Interpretation, Expression and
Style) – 30%, and (3) Overall
Performance and Stage Presence
(Facial Expression and Mastery of
the Song) – 20%.
The competition provided an
opportunity for the participants to
exhibit their talents and creativity,
and served as a venue to further
advocate the AmBisyon Natin in
support of the Country’s Long-
term Vision.
Mr. Ryan Gazo, the composer
himself of the SOCCSKSARGEN
Ambisyon Natin song, served
as the Chairman of the Board
of Judges. He was ably assisted
by Mr. Emil Labrador and Ms.
Lovelyn Langga.
Mr. Gazo was commissioned
by the National Economic and
Development Authority Regional
Office XII to compose and arrange
the SOCCSKSARGEN AmBisyon
Natin Song as a means of
advocating the Country’s long-
term vision, the AmBisyon
Natin 2040, where Filipinos are
envisioned to have a “Matatag,
Maginhawa at Panatag na Buhay
by 2040.” The song was officially
launched on November 22, 2016
in General Santos City. The
Council, during its 56th
Regular
Meeting in December 2016,
passed RDC XII Resolution No.
108, series of 2016, “Adopting
the SOCCSKSARGEN AmBisyon
Natin Song to Advocate the
Country’s Long-Term Vision”.
In compliance with the said RDC
XII resolution, AmBisyon Natin
Song is being played before the
start of all Council activities.
Other regional line agencies and
interagency regional bodies also
play the AmBisyon Natin Song
before the start of their respective
meetings and other important
activities.

6. 6 | Regional Development Updates | October - November 2019
Strong earthquakes jolt North Cotabato
Koronadal City, South Cotabato
- Strong earthquakes with
magnitude 6.6 and 6.5 struck
the Municipality of Tulunan in
Cotabato Province on October 29
and 31, 2019, respectively.
The earthquakes resulted to
20 deaths, 445 injured, and 9
missing. Around 41,448 families
or 207,240 persons were affected.
Three (3) roads were damaged:
one (1) in Kidapawan City –
Davao-Cotabato Road; one (1)
in Barangay Leaga; and the other
road was along the National
Highway in front of Southern
Baptist College, both in Mlang,
North Cotabato. All roads were
assessed as passable as of this
report.
Four (4) bridges in Makilala, one
(1) in Kidapawan City, and one
(1) in Mlang were damaged but
all were also declared passable.
As of Nov 26, 2019, a total of 68
evacuation centers in Cotabato
Province were being utilized by
7,062 families / 35,310 persons.
Around 14, 762 families or 73,810
persons, however, are staying
outside the evacuation centers.
It was deemed essential that
concerned sectors conduct
supplemental feeding programs
for underweight children at the
evacuation centers.
Essential items were
recommended to be provided to
the families in the evacuation
centers, namely: insect repellants
(lotion or spray); clothing; dignity
kits (underwear, sanitary napkin,
toothbrush, toothpaste, bath
soap, shampoo, laundry soap);
solar lamps, flashlights; shelter
tents; tent floorings; blankets;
palettes (tarima); folding beds/
collapsible beds. Source: OCD
XII, PDRRMOs, CDRRMOs AND
MDRRMOs, DPWH XII, DOH
XII, MGB XII, DSWD XII
By: Apollo Y. Manlawe, NEDA XII
Eva’s Hotel in Kidapawan City after the 6.5 magnitude earthquake on October 31,
2019. (Photo Source: https://edition.cnn.com)
The school building in the Municipality of Tulunan after the 6.6 magnitude
earthquake on October 29, 2019. (Photo Source: https://edition.cnn.com)

7. October - November 2019 | Regional Development Updates | 7
RDC XII, NCCA, and ONE brought smiles to
earthquake victims in Cotabato Province
Kidapawan City – Young and
adult earthquake victims wore
happy smiles after the Regional
Development Council (RDC)
of SOCCSKSARGEN, the
National Commission for Culture
and the Arts (NCCA), and the
Organization of NEDA XII
Employees (ONE) extended help
to them in Cotabato Province on
23 November 2019.
NCCA hosted a variety show at
the Boy Scouts of the Philippines
Camp in Makilala, Cotabato
where 600 internally displaced
families (including those at
the adjacent Girl Scouts of the
Philippines Camp) were camped.
Afterwards, they turned over
rechargeable flashlights to the
camp manager for distribution to
the internally displaced families as
part of the donations of the NCCA
in response to the RDC XII call
for assistance to the earthquake
victims.
Meanwhile, the RDC XII Team
was led by a number of staff
from the Secretariat. Supervising
Economic Development
Specialist, Ms. Gwyneth Grace
B. Collado, coordinated with the
Emergency Operations Center
of Cotabato Province located at
the Cotabato Capitol Compound,
Amas, Kidapawan City. Assisted
by the 27th
Infantry Division of the
Philippine Army, under the 1002nd
Brigade led by B/Gen Adonis
R Bajao, the Team turned over
donations in kind, from RDC XII
and the Organization of NEDA
Employees. Mr. Abril Espadera
of the Provincial Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management
Office, guided them as to which
camp to visit.
In the afternoon, the two teams
simultaneously staged a program
that brought fun to the evacuees
at the two camps. The NCCA
Team went to Brgy. Balabag,
Kidapawan City and presented
a puppet show. Thereafter,
three Ms. Earth beauties shared
practical tips to show love for
nature. The air was filled with
music from the lovely voices of
kids during the talent portion
facilitated by TV actress, Ms.
Janella of the TV series, “Ang
Probinsyano.” The evacuees also
enjoyed the community dance
led by a group from Davao City.
NCAA then turned over food
and shelter packs to the camp
manager of Balabag Camp for
distribution. The other Team went
to Greene Academy, San Vicente,
Makilala, Cotabato where they
facilitated the conduct of games
participated by the community.
Children and adults who joined
and won in the games received
prices such as food and mosquito
nets. Thereafter, team distributed
packs of relief goods to the
victims, courtesy of RDC XII and
ONE from the following NEDA
Chapters: SOCCSKSARGEN,
Ilocos, MIMAROPA, Northern
Mindanao, Davao and Caraga..
Fun and laughter filled the three
camps whose evacuees were
once stricken with fear as their
homes were ravaged by a series
of high magnitude earthquakes on
October 16, 29, and 31, 2019. The
program/activities and the relief
goods distribution were aimed
at helping the victims rise from
the traumatic and challenging
experience. As Mr. One, the
ventriloquist said in the NCCA
show, “Walang imposible. Sama-
sama tayong babangon.”
The Regional Development
Council XII is the highest policy
making body in the region,
composed of the Provincial
Governors, Mayors of cities and
municipalities designated as
provincial capitals, Presidents
of Provincial League of Mayors,
Regional Directors of agencies
represented in the NEDA Board,
Private Sector Representatives,
and Special Non-Voting Members
(SNVM) from both the public
and private sectors. Some
members of the RDC XII, by
their own initiatives, already sent
donations and provided technical
assistance immediately, days after
the earthquake, and so with the
NEDA employees and NCCA.
By: Michael BJ S. Abellana, NEDA XII
The RDC Team turned over donation in
kind from RDC XII and Organizaion of
NEDA Employees.

8. 8 | Regional Development Updates | October - November 2019
Aids to former
rebels in
Region XII
exceed P7 M
By: Danilo E. Doguiles, PIA XII
Koronadal City, South Cotabato
– Financial assistance released
to former rebels (FR) in
SOCCSKSARGEN Region, under
the Enhanced Comprehensive
Local Integration Program
(E-CLIP), has reached nearly
P7.3 million, as pronounced by an
official of the Department of the
Interior and Local Government
(DILG) XII.
“As of October 22, the cheques
distributed to FRs have amounted
to a total of P7,288,000,”
Josephine Leysa, Regional
Director (RD) of DILG XII,
reported during the meeting of the
Regional Task Force to End Local
Communist Armed Conflict (RTF-
ELCAC) on October 25, 2019.
TESDA Secretary Isidro Lapeña,
the Cabinet Officer for Regional
Development and Security
(CORDS) in SOCCSKSARGEN
Region led the RTF-ELCAC
XII meeting where heads of the
lines of effort (LOEs) reported
their second and third quarter
accomplishments related to the
whole-of-nation approach to
stop insurgency as mandated in
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s
Executive Order No. 70.
Reporting for the E-CLIP team,
RD Leysa remarked that the
DILG has monitored 159
New Peoples Army combatants
and Militia ng Bayan who have
returned to the government
fold and are enrolled in the
reintegration program.
“Of the 159 FRs, 114 have
received complete assistance,”
Leysa said. “Those for the
remaining 45 are being
processed.”
Leysa added that the DILG XII
has downloaded funds to the
provincial governments of South
Cotabato, Cotabato, Sultan
Kudarat, and Sarangani for the
construction of halfway houses,
temporary shelters for FRs
while they are being assisted for
enrolment in the program.
These shelters also serve as
facilities for livelihood and life-
skills trainings, and psychosocial
and other interventions to prepare
them in their eventual return to the
mainstream of the society.
Under the E-CLIP, an FR
is assured of safety and
security guarantees by the law
enforcement agencies; support for
relocation for the FR and his or
her immediate family; immediate
assistance of P15,000 for
mobilization expenses while being
enrolled in the program;
livelihood assistance of P50,000;
reintegration assistance of
P21,000 to defray subsistence
expenses while in custody of
the receiving unit, and other
incidental expenses, such
as securing birth certificate,
identification card and others; and
firearm remuneration, the amount
of which is double the valuation
of turned-in firearm.
An FR will be also enrolled in
PhilHealth and may avail of
services of other government
agencies such as housing from the
National Housing Authority, skills
training from Technical Education
and Skills Development,
livelihood assistance from the
Department of Labor and
Employment, and many others.

9. October - November 2019 | Regional Development Updates | 9
RLUC XII conducts Learning Session on
RA 11038, visits Mt. Matutum Protected
Landscape (MMPL)
By: Gwyneth Grace B. Collado, NEDA XII
Koronadal City, South
Cotabato – The Regional Land
Use Committee (RLUC) XII
conducted a learning session
on Republic Act (RA) 11038
otherwise known as the
“Expanded National Integrated
Protected Areas System or
ENIPAS Act of 2018” on October
08, 2019.
The learning session was a
prelude to the regular meeting of
the Committee which was aimed
at capacitating and increasing
the awareness of the Committee
members on the new law so they
can pursue its enforcement more
effectively. Issues discussed
during the learning session were
deliberated during the regular
meeting for the Committee’s
appropriate action.
RA 11038 established 94
protected areas in the country
and two of these, namely the Mt.
Matutum Protected Landscape
(MMPL) and the Sarangani Bay
Protected Seascape, are within the
jurisdiction of SOCCSKSARGEN
Region.
After the lecture provided by
Forester Dirie A. Macabaning
of DENR XII, the Committee
members traveled to the MMPL
area at Sitio Glandang, Brgy.
Kablon, Tupi, South Cotabato.
The MMPL covers the portions
of the municipalities of Tupi,
Tampakan, and Polomolok
in South Cotabato. It rests on
South Cotabato’s highest peak
which is classified as an active
volcano. It is considered among
the province’s vital watershed
areas being the source of 25%
of the water requirement of the
SOCCSKSARGEN area. It is
also home to various rare flora
and fauna; and a known habitat of
endemic birds and mammals such
as the Philippine deer, tarsiers,
civets, bats, and others.
Among the prominent issues in
the MMPL are the presence of
built-up areas and mono-crop
plantation farms in the Strict
Protection Zone (SPZ) and the
improper disposal of solid waste
by the occupants of the said area.
The Committee passed Resolution
No. 17, series of 2019, endorsing
to the Protected Area Management
Board (PAMB) of the MMPL
the recommendations of the
Committee, particularly the
implementation of the protected
area management and zoning
plan. Moreover, DENR XII was
also enjoined by the Committee
to intensify its information
education campaign (IEC) in the
communities that encroach the
SPZ, and to conduct the “User’s/
Producers Forum.” Likewise, the
LGU of Tupi was also requested
to strictly implement RA 9003,
especially at Sitio Glandang,
Brgy. Kablon.

10. 10 | Regional Development Updates | October - November 2019
Tagakaolo school of living traditions opens
in Sarangani
By: Danilo E. Doguiles, PIA XII
authentic indigenous knowledge,”
Tirando underscored.
Sulong Tribu is the IP
development program of the
provincial government of
Sarangani.
The Tagakaolo SLT construction
project started in January 2019
when Malungon Mayor Maria
Theresa Constantino turned
over P200,000 check to Tuklas
Katutubo (TK) President, Jason
Sibug and Chapter President,
Rene Boy Takyawan. The project
also received financial support
from the Sagittarius Mines Inc.
(SMI).
While TK worked for the
establishment of an SLT for the
Tagakaolo tribe and supervised
the construction of the SLT
building, the responsibility to
operate and sustain the school of
living traditions rest on the tribal
leaders and residents of Upper
Lumabat, Takyawan emphasized.
and pass these on to the young
generation,” Galgo said.
The SLT will also serve as a
village museum of weaponry,
tools, relics and other artifacts of
the tribe.
“We will document the indigenous
knowledge system of the
Tagakaolo tribe and display these
inside the SLT for our children
to learn from,” said Datu Beto
Angonia, municipal vice chieftain
for Tagakaolo.
“This SLT will remind the
Tagakaolo children the importance
of their indigenous culture,”
Angonia emphasized.
Celito Tirando, Manager of
Sulong Tribu Program, said the
SLT will be developed to fortify
the IP education curriculum of
nearby public schools.
“This will ensure that what is
taught in the public school are
The Tagakaolo children in
Malungon can now learn more
about their indigenous culture,
beliefs, practices, and history
with the opening of the Tagakaolo
School of Living Traditions (SLT)
in their municipality.
The SLT in Barangay Upper
Lumabat is the first of its kind
facility for the Tagakaolo tribe
in Malungon. An SLT and a
village museum for B’laan tribe
have been in operation in Sitio
Lamlifew in Barangay Datal
Tampal.
Monard Galgo, municipal
indigenous people’s permanent
representative, said the facility
was built in Upper Lumabat
because almost all of the residents
there are of Tagakaolo tribe.
“Through this SLT, the local
government of Malungon hopes
to preserve the culture and
traditions of the indigenous
people, specifically the Tagakaolo,

11. Regional Development Council XII
Resolutions Passed
67th
Regular Meeting, 17 September 2019
General Santos City
October - November 2019 | Regional Development Updates | 11

12. 12 | Regional Development Updates | October - November 2019
Sox conducts
Forum on SDG
12: Sustainable
Consumption
and Production
in celebration of
2019 EFLW
City of Koronadal, South
Cotabato – About 59 students
from seven schools in Koronadal
City actively participated in
the forum focused on SDG 12:
Sustainable Consumption and
Production (SCP), along with
representatives from line agencies,
private sector representatives,
and the local government units in
the region. All in all, the forum
registered a total of 115 attendees.
The forum was conducted on
November 13, 2019 at Maya
Pavilion, Paraiso Verde Resort,
Koronadal City.
The annual celebration of the
Economic and Financial Literacy
Week (EFLW) is pursuant to
Republic Act No.10922. It is
celebrated every second week of
November and led by the National
Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA).
This year’s theme, “Our planet’s
health, the future’s wealth”
calls for the concerted efforts
towards building an inclusive
and sustainable future for our
planet through harmonizing
environmental protection, social
inclusion, and economic growth.
In relation to the theme, Ms.
Ma. Lulu E. Valencia of NEDA
XII presented the Philippines
Sustainable Consumption and
Production Framework and Action
Plan. The SCP was linked to
various strategies and/or chapters
of the SOCCSKSARGEN
Regional Development Plan
(RDP, 2017-2022) as presented by
Ms. Gwyneth Grace B. Collado,
also from NEDA XII.
Additional inputs relative
to the theme were presented
as follows: Overview of the
Sustainable Development Goals
and Report on SDG Watch Goal
12 by the Philippine Statistics
Authority XII; Regulatory
Tools in Promoting SCP by the
Environmental Management
Bureau (EMB) XII; Best Practices
on Solid Waste Management
by the City of Koronadal; and,
Sustainable Tourism Strategies
and Policies by the Department of
Tourism XII.
Likewise the forum included
a topic on the National Retail
Payment by the Bangko Sentral
ng Pilipinas (BSP), which
envisions to empower every Juan
and Maria by having easy access
to financial services.
In his welcome message, Hon.
Rolando S. Doria, Private Sector
Representative for Economic
Sector, said “through this
forum, we hope to strengthen
our collaboration, as student, as
government workers and members
of the private sector. We need
to learn more, and continue to
keep ourselves abreast with the
relevant socio-economic issues
and conditions, gain new insights,
nurture new ideas to ensure
sustainable practices in everything
we do and help in the attainment
of SDGs as a whole.
BSP distributed commemorative coins to
some students who were able to answer trivia
questions.
Clockwise: Ms. Liza D. Hora; Mr.
Ronan Eugene C. Garcia, and
Dr. Rolando S. Doria, Private
Sector Representatives to Regional
Development Council (RDC) XII
attended the 2019 EFLW Forum at
Maya Pavilion, Paraiso Verde Resort,
Koronadal City on November 13,
2019.
By: Evie A. Cabulanan, NEDA XII