Third Quarter The Official Newsletter of the Regional Development Council IV-A September 2014 NEDA IV-A bags Outstanding Partner for Source of Information Award by Alvin Caezar V. Olanday, NEDA IV-A OIC-RD Luis G. Banua (3rd from left) together with other awardees, and BSP Lucena Deputy Director Rogel Joseph V. del Rosario (2nd row, leftmost), Monetary Board Member Armando L. Suratos (center), Assistant Governor for Regional Monetary Affairs Sub-Sector Gerardo S. Tison (2nd from right) and Acting Deputy Director of Department of Economic Statistics Marriel M. Remulla (right most). The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Regional Office IV-A was awarded the “Outstanding Partner for Source of Information” during the 2014 Awards Ceremony and Appreciation Lunch for Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Stakeholders held last September 2 at Days Hotel, Tagaytay City. The award recognized NEDA IV-A’s efforts in providing BSP with valuable information necessary in preparing the Report on Regional Economic Development in the Philippines released annually. Other nominees from the region include the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resource (BFAR), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Philippine Statistics Authority-National Statistics Office (PSA-NSO). NEDA IV-A OIC-Regional Director Luis G. Banua NEDA IV-A receives the BSP Outstanding Partner for Source of received the trophy, designed by renowned sculptor Juan Information on Regional Economic Development Award. Sajid Imao. The award was presented by BSP Assistant (L-R): BSP Monetary Board Member Armando L. Suratos, Mr. Alvin Caezar V. Olanday and OIC-RD Luis G. Banua of NEDA, and BSP Governor for Regional Monetary Affairs Sub-Sector Assistant Governor Gerardo S. Tison. Gerardo S. Tison and Monetary Board Member Armando L. Suratos. means of information gathering and conduct of advocacy campaigns to achieve the BSP’s ultimate goal of According to BSP, the award “is expected to further safeguarding price stability and promoting a healthy strengthen the partnerships between the BSP and its financial system as well as ensuring an effective stakeholders, resulting in more efficient and effective payments and settlements system in the country”. 2 Calabarzon there is knowledge in news On this Issue Most competitive municipalities include Page 2 • Most competitive Calabarzon LGUs municipalities include by Russiel V. Pitogo, DTI IV-A Calabarzon LGUs The municipalities of General Trias (2nd) and Carmona (4th), both from Cavite, ranked Page 3 among the most competitive municipalities in the Philippines for 2014 according to the • Calabarzon RDC holds National Competitiveness Council. Data were gathered from the 2014 Cities and nd 2 Quarter Meeting Municipalities Competitiveness Index (CMCI) among 399 first class municipalities. The 2014 CMCI results were released during the Regional Competitiveness Summit held on Page 4 August 7 at Bayview Hotel, Manila. • Pres. Aquino approves Laguna Lakeshore Project Other LGUs from Calabarzon also received high ranks for various measures in the CMCI. st The following LGUs were given high ranks under economic dynamism: Tanza, Cavite (1 ); nd rd th Page 5 General Trias, Cavite (2 ); San Pedro, Laguna (3 ); Carmona, Cavite (4 ); and Taytay, Rizal (5th). For the infrastructure category, Rodriguez, Rizal was ranked 2nd. • Luzon Spatial Development Framework Speakers during the Regional Competitiveness Summit underscored the significant role of Workshops held the Regional Competitiveness Councils (RCCs) all over the regions in evaluating cities and municipalities. They further emphasized the role of government agencies, the private sector, Page 6 th and development partners in contributing to inclusive growth in the country in light of the • 5 RDC-PSR National ASEAN Economic Community integration in 2015. Convention successfully held in Iloilo City NCC Private Sector Co-Chairman Guillermo M. Luz encouraged the stakeholders to cooperate in building affordable, accessible, socially acceptable, environment friendly, Page 7 economically viable, and climate resilient measures in pursuing competitiveness in cities • Provincial News and municipalities. Page 8 From 122 cities and 163 municipalities in the preliminary run in 2013, this year’s CMCI • SLSU implements presented data from a total of 136 cities and 399 municipalities. From Calabarzon, 17 cities ‘Yamang Lupa’ Program and 44 first class municipalities participated in the survey. The CMCI measures in Luzon competitiveness of local governments by using 28 weighted indicators measuring: a) economic dynamism; b) government efficiency; and c) infrastructure. Page 9 (L-R) NCC Co-Chairman • DTI funds bamboo Mr. Guillermo M. Luz, DTI industry in Cardona Rizal Provincial Director Mercedes A. Parreño, Mayor Antonio A. Ferrer of Page 10 Gen. Trias, Cavite, Socio- economic Planning • Calabarzon welcome its Secretary Arsenio M. new Heads of Agencies Balisacan, and Undersecretary Adrian S. Cristobal of DTI during the Page 11-14 awarding at the 2nd Regional Competitiveness • Calabarzon Regional Summit last August 7 at the Economic Situationer Philippines International Convention Center. Page 15-16 © Local Communications Group, Gen. Trias (http://generaltrias.gov.ph) • RPMC Bulletin Third Quarter 2014 EDITORIAL BOARD Feedbacks and article contributions are welcome. Please contact: Editor-in-Chief Editors OIC-RD Luis G. Banua Agnes A. Daantos Editorial Board Donald James D. Gawe NEDA Regional Office IV-A Michael R. Lavadia Published quarterly by the Managing Editors 4/F Marcelita Building, Valter L. Morada Nat’l Highway, Brgy. Real, Regional Development OIC-ARD Fidel T. Udarbe Marcelo Cesar R. Palacio Calamba City, Laguna 4027 Council IV-A (Calabarzon). Rudy R. Carlos Tel: (049) 545-77-56 / 0091 The Editorial Board reserves the right to choose the articles to be published due Layout and Design Consultant Email: to the limited space. Alvin Caezar V. Olanday Aletheia G. Canubas [email protected] Third Quarter 2014 3 Calabarzon RDC holds 2nd Quarter Meeting by Armina O. Espiritu, NEDA IV-A The Calabarzon Regional Development Council endorsed and approved three major projects in the region during the Second Quarter Full Council meeting held last June 26 at the TESDA Women’s Center in Taguig City. These projects were the Cavite-Laguna Expressway or CALAx Project, the Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike Project, and the Tanauan City Public Market Redevelopment Project. The CALAx Project is a 47.02 km tolled expressway that will connect CAVITEX from NEDA OIC-RD Agnes M. Espinas leads on taking oath of the new Kawit, Cavite to Mamplasan Exit of the SLEX. Similarly, geographic PSRs Rosalina DC. Dulog from Cavite; and Guillermo M. Ocampo from Batangas. the dike project in Laguna is a 47 km, 6-lane highway- cum flood control dike that will run from the proposed terminus of C6 Phase 2 Expressway Project in Bicutan, Dulog of the Lasallian Community Development Center Taguig, through Calamba City and ends at the National from Cavite and Director Guillermo M. Ocampo of the Road at the Los Baños/Bay boundary in Laguna. Council for the Restoration of Filipino Values (CRFV) from Batangas. Other projects approved by the council included the inclusion of the proposed Tanauan New City Hall with Plaques of appreciation were also awarded during the Public Market in the Revalidated Regional Development meeting to Dir. Leonida S. Calagui of CHED, Dir. Investment Program 2011-2016. It was also agreed during Roberto L. Almonte of NCIP and Dir. Erlinda Pearl V. the meeting to adopt the Revitalization of Calabarzon Armada (transferred), and Dir. Norito A. Cabotaje of PIA Regional Project Monitoring and Evaluation System (retired) for their service to the Council. The Council also (RPMES) through Web-based Technology, and commended DOTC-LTO IV-A for its exemplary and Mainstreaming of Aesthetic in Regional and Local transparent performance of its mandated tasks. Development Planning. Representatives from local government units, regional New geographic private sector representatives were also line agencies, private sector and state universities and confirmed last June 26. They are Director Rosalina DC. colleges attended the meeting. Calabarzon RRC identifies research gaps on growth drivers by Michael R. Lavadia, NEDA IV-A The research agenda for Calabarzon was firmed-up and Concerns and suggestions raised include the following: validated during the Regional Development Research a) a need to enhance advocacy to stimulate the interest of Agenda (RDRA) Workshop held on August 20 in LGUs in prioritizing R&D; b) insufficient funding Calamba City. support on researches and studies; c) inclusion of R&D as priority in agency investment programs; d) need to Twenty-six representatives from various government further refine implementation and monitoring regional line agencies, the academe, research mechanisms; and e) preparation of regional inventory of consortiums, local government units, and the private proposed/pipelined researches to avoid duplication and sector were present in the workshop. The Regional promote complementation and sharing of resources Research Committee prepared the draft of the RDRA. among research institutions. Priority research agenda focused on the challenges and The RDRA is crafted to define research gaps in response opportunities of the region’s growth drivers in the to the issues and challenges identified in the Calabarzon following areas: agriculture and fisheries; manufacturing Regional Development Plan 2011-2016.