The Metropolitan Davao Development Coordinating Committee (MDDCC) spearheaded the drafting of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA) Act during the preliminary meeting with the local government units (LGUs) within the territorial jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Davao, and the concerned national government agencies (NGAs) via hybrid videoconferencing and face-to-face meeting on May 25, 2022 at the NEDA-RDC XI Center, Km. 7, Bangkal, Davao City.
The MDDCC, a special committee of the Regional Development Council (RDC) XI and a transitory structure for inter-LGU cooperation, was tasked to draft the implementing rules and regulations of the Republic Act No. 11708, An Act Creating the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA), Defining Its Powers and Functions, and Providing Funds Therefor. The RA No. 11708 was signed into Law by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte on April 13, 2022. To initiate the drafting of the IRR, the MDDCC Secretariat requested Local government units (LGUs) of Metro Davao areas, and concerned national government agencies (NGAs) of their inputs, and convene them to subject the drafting of the IRR into writeshop.
The preliminary meeting was joined virtually by no less than the principal author of the Law, Congressman Isidro Ungab of the 3rd Congressional District of Davao City. Cong. Ungab provided the Committee guidance in the drafting of the IRR and the ways forward that the Committee shall undertake relative to its approval and implementation.
The writeshop for the drafting of the IRR was facilitated by the RDC XI Vice-Chair and NEDA XI Regional Director Maria Lourdes D. Lim. Dir. Lim presented the working draft IRR prepared by the MDDCC Secretariat. The draft IRR was carefully deliberated as it was presented section by section. It was agreed that all Metro Davao LGUs and concerned agencies shall provide their inputs to further enhance the working draft. The enhanced draft IRR shall be presented in the MDDCC’s second quarter meeting on June 7, 2022 for review. As provided in the Act, the promulgation of the necessary IRR shall be done within 90 days upon approval of this Act by the Metropolitan Davao Development Council.
The preliminary meeting also discussed matters relating to the proposed staffing pattern and budgetary requirement of the MDDA for CY 2022-2023. Assistant Secretary Achilles Gerard C. Bravo of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) also joined the virtual meeting. As part of the steering committee that will draft the proposed staffing pattern and operating budget of the MDDA, ASec. Bravo provided the Committee guidance on the drafting of proposed staffing pattern and operating budget for CY 2022-2023. The proposed operating budget is expected to be submitted to the DBM and the Office of the President within May 2022.
– Ruth C. Lasquite, NEDA XI