DAVAO DEL NORTE, MARCH 14 (PIA)--- Creating Metro Davao Development Authority (MDDA) under House Bill No. (HBN) 8930 is expected to get the approval of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, soonest.
Tagum City Planning and Development Officer Arturo B. Manigo, Jr., president of Local Planners League of Region XI revealed during the latest edition of Kapihan sa DavNor the recently discussed updates on DMMA in a meeting with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) XI.
He said that HB 8930 recently approved by the Philippine Senate on third and final reading had been endorsed to House Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco and this will then be forwarded to the Office of the President.
“Hopefully ma-permahan within the month of March,” Manigo said referring to HBN 8930 to turn into a Republic Act once signed by President Duterte.
HBN 8930 seeks to create a special body that “will coordinate and promote socio-economic growth and sustainable development” of areas covered under the Metropolitan Davao- the Metropolitan Davao Development Authority (MDDA).
Under House Bill No. (HBN) 8930, the MDDA will cover areas in proximity: Davao City, cities of Panabo, Tagum, the Island Garden City of Samal (IGACoS) and the municipality of Carmen in Davao del Norte; the City of Digos in Davao del Sur.
Manigo explained that other areas in Davao Region shall also be covered in the Metro Davao but the original set were those areas in proximity that have common development concerns to address in complementation with each other.
Basing on the online meeting with NEDA XI on MDDA developments, Manigo said working committees have been organized starting with the Public Safety and Security. Initial output on drawing the Public Security and Safetyb Master Plan was presented during the recent meeting, he said.
Other priority concerns common to adjacent and contiguous DMMA areas are garbage and sanitation, and public transportation and traffic.
Meanwhile, on top of looking at some opportunities along with expected spur in economy in covered areas, Metro Davao city planners were anticipating challenges particularly on public transport and traffic management.
In Panabo City, City Administrator Pedrito A. Misoles said the city government is looking at the possibility of setting up a “high priority transport system” with Panabo City as a “stopover of high-tech buses” instead of just coming up with just a re-routing plan.
“We also fast track on creating the bypass road because Panabo will be passed through by the Mindanao railway,” he said during the same Kapihan sa DavNor edition.
Misoles revealed the move of Panabo to apply for reclassification into 1st class component city from the current 3rd class component city status, in the bid to substantially “take part in contributing to the importance of this plan.”
Meanwhile, Island Garden City of Samal City Planning and Development Officer Mario S. Pacaldo said the city government is prioritizing public security measures as the island city is positioned as a primary tourist destination not just in Davao del Norte but in Davao Region.
With the influx of tourists and residential locators in Samal, peace and order is a projected concern. “There is already police visibility and armed forces presence. We are an island, we can easily be docked and be left ,” he said.
Sanitary landfill is also a primary concern in Samal that has already been foreseen and addressed by the city government, but Pacaldo saw the need to expand it to complement with the growing need for such facility.
On the other hand, Manigo saw food requirement of Tagum as a concern to address through complementation with other LGUs as Tagum right now can only supply 20 percent of its population.
Its agricultural areas have been reduced to open up more areas for resettlement, for investment locations, commercial center needs and residential spaces.
“Maski naay independence and matag LGUs we need each other,” he said, emphasizing the symbiotic nature of development cooperation among LGUs in Metro Davao Development Authority (MDDA). (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron Abangan)
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