As Duterte Assumes Presidency, A Brighter Era for Mindanao

17 Jun As Duterte Assumes Presidency, A Brighter Era for Mindanao

Image Source | uca.edu

During the past years, Mindanao has always been left out in terms of development with the “imperial Manila” being prioritized with the national budget. Yet, with president-elect Rodrigo Duterte to assume office this month, Regional Development Council (RDC) Davao Region Chair Rodolfo R. del Rosario hopes that the whole Mindanao will get the special attention it deserves. And being called as the land of promise, under Duterte’s regime, it will finally be realized.

And since Rodrigo Duterte hails from Davao region, prospects for its betterment is also sought to become brighter. As del Rosario said, “With the incoming president hailing from Mindanao the prospects for a better Davao Region of 4.89 Million residents have become even brighter in terms of resource allocation which we have aspired for and which this Council has long fought hard for.”

However, being the country’s fastest growing economy with a gross domestic product of 9.4% in 2014, Davao Region is expected to maintain its rank, once all the figures are tabulated for 2015.

“It was reported that the Davao Region’s 2014 GDP topped all the other regions and its 9.4% growth rate even better than that of the 6.7% GDP nationwide,” said Maria Lourdes D. Lim, RDC Davao Region vice-chairperson and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Director.

Ms. Lim added that even with a meager share of P38.21 billion in the P3.002 trillion 2016 national budget, the region was still able to achieve the said growth.

Meanwhile, del Rosario said that they’ll be proposing a bigger budget for the region next year of about P115.21 billion. To distribute the biggest bulk, P57.562 billion, to the Departments of Health, Social Welfare and Development, and Education. While the remaining P50.646 billion budget will be for the region’s infrastructure development, for the Departments of Public Works and Highways, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Philippine Ports Authority and Land Transportation Office.

Del Rosario added that with Duterte as the country’s president, the region’s projects such as the Davao International Airport, the Sasa Port Development, the proposed bridge between the Island Garden City and the city, Davao City’s proposed bypass road and the Davao Food Exchange Complex will be considered and realized.