RDC IX Chair, Gov. Victor J. Yu presiding the meeting, with RDC IX Vice-Chair RD Phlorita A. Ridao of NEDA IX RDC IX endorses Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa Regional Action Plan The Regional Development Council (RDC) IX conducted its The updates on the Undervoltage and Power Fluctuation 171st Regular Meeting via Zoom Application on 03 December in Region IX were presented by Atty. Engr. Edgar Fronda of 2020. One of the 35 resolutions passed was the endorsement National Grid Corporation of the Philippines. of the Zamboanga Peninsula Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag- asa Action Plan 2020-2030 to the National BP² Council. Other major resolutions passed were the following: (a) The Plan was earlier approved by the RDC IX-BP² Special Endorsement of the Farm to Market Development Program of Committee chaired by Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista Department of Agriculture IX for CY 2020 under Bayanihan of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and 2; and (b) Approving the Priority Programs and Projects of Cabinet Officer for Regional Development (CORDS) IX and Zamboanga Peninsula for presentation during the Mindanao subsequently endorsed to the Council. Leaders’ Summit in January 2021. In attendance were Governor of Zamboanga Sibugay, Atty. The 172nd Regular Meeting of the council is tentatively Wilter Y. Palma, and President of League of Municipalities for scheduled on 04 March 2021 via Videoconference. (Ric Luke Zamboanga del Norte, Mayor Roberto L. Uy Jr. of Liloy. Also in B. Garcia, NEDA IX) attendance were directors and representatives of 21 regional line agencies, representatives of five local government units, 11 Private Sector Representatives and six special non-voting members. RDC IX Chairperson and Governor of Zamboanga del Sur, Hon. Victor J. Yu presided the meeting. In his opening remarks, he stressed the major accomplishments of the council despite the challenges brought about by COVID-19. “We were greatly challenged by the circumstances, and our way of life changed in an instant. But our resilience, dedication to public service, and collective effort helped us adapt to the new and better normal” Chair Yu said. Some of the participants of the meeting EDITORIAL STAFF CONTRIBUTORS INFO Contact: EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Ric Luke B. Garcia, NEDA IX The RDC Communicator is published quarterly The Editorial Board: NEDA Regional Office IX Phlorita A. Ridao, RD Loreta E. Lapad, NEDA IX by the Regional Development Council (RDC) IX. President Corazon C. Aquino Regional Angel A. Chua-Elloren, DICT IX The Editorial Board reserves the right to choose Government Center Balintawak, ASSOCIATE EDITORS Rick Dalid, DTI IX the articles to be published due to space Pagadian City 7016 Susan C. Valerio, OIC-ARD Karen Claire Q. Grafia, DOLE IX limitation. Articles and pictures will become Telephone Nos: (062) 913-0164, 0165, 0168 Renato C. Herrara, CEDS, PDIPBD Joni Sarina R. Mejico, DOLE IX property of RDC IX. Comments and Fax No: (062) 945-0049 Eleanor M. Reyes, CEDS, DRD Angel A. Chua-Elloren, DICT IX suggestions are welcome. Email Address: [email protected], Leticia O. Lobren, CEDS, PMED Francis Melanie Temonio, DOST IX [email protected] Rodrigo A. Manuel, OIC, PFPD Melody Anne H. Donio, DOST IX URL: http://nro9.neda.gov.ph Ronald Von D. Rivera, CAO FAD Marielle Atilano, DOST IX NNC IX PUBLICATION COORDINATORS DAR IX Arthur N. de Guzman OCD IX Graebert S. Echin DESIGN AND LAYOUT Lloyd E. Duhaylungsod RTF-ELCAC IX responds to the needs of ZamPen barangays The concerted efforts of the Provincial Task Forces to End sector and the civil society organizations collaborated and Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) in Zamboanga provided these needed interventions. Peninsula and the 11 Clusters of Regional Task Force (RTF) ELCAC IX focused on responding to the needs of barangays Regional Director Pinky Grace P. Pareja of the National affected by the Communist Terrorist Groups (CTGs). The Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) IX presented the reports from the PTF-ELCACs and Clusters were the highlights issues of the Indigenous Cultural Communities and Indigenous during the 5th RTF-ELCAC IX meeting on October 27, 2020 Peoples (ICC/IPs) in Zamboanga Peninsula. These issues through video conference. were generated during the inter-agency visit in September 2020 of NCIP Chair Allen Capuyan in the region. On the tribal “It is important that we concentrate our efforts as the leaders’ conflict, Dir. Pareja expressed a “need to strengthen Regional Task Force into ensuring that the communities know the IP Structures to finally resolve the division and foster unity that the government is working for them and that we are a among the IP Tribes.” government that truly cares for all our constituents”, said the Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista of the Department of National Security Council Deputy Director General Damian L. Social Welfare and Development, Cabinet Officer for Regional Carlos, DSWD Undersecretary for Inclusive and Sustainable Development and Security for Region IX. Peace and Head of the RTF-ELCAC IX Secretariat Rene Glen O Paje, RDC IX Chairperson Governor Victor J. Yu, and 68 The PTF-ELCAC and the Department of the Interior and members and guests of the RTF-ELCAC IX participated in the Local Government IX in collaboration with the Armed Forces meeting. of the Philippines conducted the needs assessment through the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) in the 86 Sec. Bautista capped the meeting saying that “there is no fast barangays affected by the CTGs in Zamboanga Peninsula. route in resolving the insurgency crisis with the CTGs to attain Basic services like access roads, concrete bridges, potable a just and lasting peace. However, through the RTF-ELCAC water, power lines, irrigation system, pre-and post-agriculture platform, we are able to harmonize and improve coordination facilities, housing, health centers, school buildings including in the implementation of government programs and projects internet connectivity, were identified during the RCSP. The for an efficient delivery of service”. (Loreta E. Lapad, NEDA IX) PTF-ELCAC of Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay, the regional line agencies, private RDC IX Executive Committee endorses TEACEP The Regional Development Council Executive Committee evaluation activities, with data analysis,interpretation, (RDC ExCom) IX endorsed the Teachers Effectiveness reporting and utilization. and Competencies Enhancement Project (TEACEP) of Department of Education (DepEd) IX. The TEACEP is a P5.5 For Region IX, the province of Zamboanga del Sur has been billion or USD 120 million project, of which USD 110 million is selected as the program’s pilot beneficiary, as the other proposed to be financed through a World Bank loan and a provinces are currently recipients of other international Philippine government counterpart of USD 10 million. assistance in the fields of education, health, water and sanitation, among others. TEACEP is a 4-year project to be implemented by DepEd which aims to improve the quality and equity of access to Prior to the endorsement of RDC IX Executive Committee, the instruction from kindergarten to Grade 6 in regions IX, XII, and project was reviewed and endorsed by the Regional Social Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Development Committee IX. RDC IX Chairperson and Governor Victor J. Yu of Zamboanga In attendance during the RDC IX ExCom meeting were, among del Sur convened the RDC IX Executive Committee on October others, Dir. Isabelita M. Borres of DepEd IX who presented 12, 2020 via video conference to deliberate the said project. the TEACEP, representatives from the city and provincial local government units, chairpersons of the Regional Social The components of the project are as follows: Development Committee IX, Economic Development Committee IX, and Infrastructure Development Committee IX. • provision of support to teachers and school leaders in (Ric Luke B. Garcia) improving teaching practices, • provision of adequate materials for effective teaching and learning, and • conduct of project management, monitoring and October - December 2020 3 DAR distributes land titles, projects in Region 9 implements and farm machineries 21,742 ARBs. These includes the sub-projects which were sourced from the five programs of DAR namely; Project Convergence on Value Chain Enhancement for Rural Growth and Empowerment (ConVERGE), Convergence on Livelihood Assistance for Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Project (CLAAP), Climate Resilient Farm Productivity Support Program (CRFPSP), Village Level Farm-focused Enterprise Development (VLFED) and Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP). Likewise, certificates of full payment on land amortization where also awarded to 336 ARBs. Atty. Emily Padilla, Undersecretary for the Support Services Office, emphasized that their goal is to reach out to the farmers in the field and provide them the support they needed, as well DAR Secretary John Castriciones goes to Zamboanga del Sur where he leads as, to encourage ARBs to produce high quality products at par the distribution of CLOAs and projects to the agrarian reform beneficiaries of with the international market. Region 9 DAR Secretary John R. Castriciones led the distribution of 720 DAR 9 Regional Director expressed his gratitude to land titles and projects amounting to a total of P65,950,392 Secretary Castriciones who came all the way to Region 9 to to agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) and organizations personally turn over the land titles and projects to the farmer (ARBOs and ARCs) in Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del beneficiaries. The ceremonial distribution was also attended Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay. by Pagadian City Mayor Samuel S. Co, Zamboanga del Sur 1st District Representative Congresswomen Divina Grace C. Yu, “Mabuhay ang mag-uuma!” exclaimed the Secretary during Zamboanga del Sur 2nd District Representative Congressman the grand event held at Pagadian City Function Hall on Leonardo L. Babasa Jr., officials from CARP implementing line December 16, 2020. agencies and other DAR 9 regional and provincial officials and staff.