NB-RDCOM MINDANAO AREA COMMITTEE SECRETARIAT’S CONFERENCE REVIEWS PROPOSED NATIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGY | NEDA Region XI

The activity was the first leg of RDCom Area consultations mainly to generate area-specific recommendations to refine the NSS which is envisioned to be the core strategy of the updated National Physical Framework Plan, as well as the basis for the preparation of the National Transport Plan (NTP).

The NEDA Regional Office XI led by RD Maria Lourdes D. Lim hosted a total of forty three (43) participants to the conference coming from the NEDA Central Office, NEDA Mindanao Regions and the Regional Planning and Development Office of ARMM.

The event was graced by no less than the NEDA-Board RDCom Technical Board Chairperson and NEDA Regional Development Office (RDO) Deputy Director-General Margarita R. Songco, along with National Development Office (NDO) Assistant Director-General Rosemarie G. Edillon, Regional Development Staff (RDS) OIC-Director Remedios S. Endencia, NSS Consultant Dr. Arturo G. Corpuz and World Bank Consultant Ms. Hope Gerochi.

The event was also a venue to discuss the updates on the Philippine Development Plan (PDP), the Public Investment Program (PIP), and the Regional Development Plans (RDPs). Discussion on these topics included the strengthening of the linkages between the PDP and RDPs/ PIP and RDIPs. The Mindanao NEDA Regional Offices likewise advocated the priority projects under their respective Regional Development Investment Programs. Joining the discussions on the PDP and PIP updates were Public Investment Staff (PIS) Assistant Director Florante G. Igtiben, Infrastructure Staff (IS) OIC-Assistant Director Kathleen P. Mangune and Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment Staff (ANRES) OIC-Chief Gay Maureen G. Alagcan.

The second day of the Conference was devoted to a discussion of Executive Order No. 257, “Creating a Regional Development Committee (RDCom) under the NEDA Board” and its Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR), the Agenda Forecast of the RDCom-MAC for the second semester of 2013 and first semester of 2014; and the Terms of Reference for the operations of the RDCom-Mindanao Sub-Committees (Jerene C. Managbanag, EDS II).

DAVAO REGION, designated as Region XI, is located in the southeastern portion of Mindanao. It consists of 5 provinces, namely, Davao de Oro Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, as well as, 1 highly-urbanized city, Davao City. The Region has 11 congressional districts, 5 component cities and 1,162 barangays. The Region has a generally uniform distribution of rainfall throughout the year. Aside from its forestland and fertile fields, the region is famous for its rich mineral resources, such as gold, copper, manganese and nickel.

Davao Region is the most populous region in Mindanao and the 7th most populous in the country, with a total of 5,243,536 inhabitants in 2020. It is a melting pot of many cultural groups and nurtures several ethnic tribes from its islands and highlands, namely, Iranun, Ata, Kagan, Bagobo Klata, Maguindanaon, Bagobo Tagabawa, Maranao, Matigsalug, Sama, Obu Manuvu, and Taosug, T'bolis and B'laans.

Most of the Region's inhabitants speak Cebuano, aside from dialects spoken by the tribal communities. Tagalog and English are also spoken and widely used in schools, businesses, commerce, and industry. Major groups are composed of Cebuanos, Boholanos, and Ilonggos while smaller communities of Ilocanos, Tagalogs, Warays, and Bicolanos also reside in the area. Principal products are bananas, coconut, palay, sugarcane, corn, durian and mango.

Land Area (sq. km.)	20,357.4
Population (as of May 1, 2020)	5,243,536
GRDP, 2022 (at constant 2018 prices)	PHP 954,074,121
GRDP annual growth rate, 2022 (at constant 2018 prices)	8.9%
GRDP per capita, 2022 (at constant 2018 prices)	PHP 175,013
Labor Force Participation Rate (January 2023)	63.20%
Employment Rate (January 2023)	95.50%
Unemployment Rate (January 2023)	4.50%
Underemployment Rate (January 2023)	6.30%

_{Source: PSA XI - QuickStat April 2023}

Contact Us