Economic Development Committee XI Tackled Issues on the Utilization of Public Idle Lands in Davao Region and Tagum-Libuganon River Basin Master Planning

DAVAO CITY --- The Economic Development Committee (EDC) of the Regional Development Council (RDC) XI convened for its third quarter regular meeting for CY 2014 at the NEDA-RDC XI Center, Davao

City on September 9, 2014. Among the matters discussed were the Establishment of a Web-based Database Inventory of Public Idle Lands and the review of the Master Plan for the Tagum-Libuganon River Basin.                 

EDC XI Vice-chairperson Maria Lourdes D. Lim, CESO II stated that the identification of public idle lands, consolidating them into a single platform and making them electronically accessible through the web shall assist the Private Sector find suitable land for investment.  EDC XI Chairperson Maria Belenda Q. Ambi, CESO V added that this initiative shall address a common problem of potential investors whose investments are constrained/delayed due to fragmented data holdings on public idle lands. The database shall feature simplified procedures for utilizing public idle lands for investments. The Committee is working on the finalization of the Terms of Reference (TOR) for all agencies that will be involved in this initiative to include the DENR, NCIP, DAR, DA and the Provincial LGUs. The data base is scheduled to

be completed and available for use by June 2015.

The Committee also reviewed the Master Plan for the Tagum-Libuganon River Basin, one of the eighteen major and priority river basins in the Philippines identified by the Cabinet Cluster on Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation per Resolution No. 2012-001. The River Basin has a catchment area of 3,064 sq km and traverses between Caraga and Davao Regions. In the past years, the River has been frequently flooding the municipalities of Asuncion, Carmen and Kapalong during rainy seasons. Due to its rich biodiversity and potentials for coastal and freshwater use, hydropower source and water transport, the River has been prioritized for various initiatives such as water quality and resources management, flood mitigation and biodiversity conservation.

The review of the Master Plan is ongoing and spearheaded by a Technical Working Group comprising of NEDA XI, DENR XI, NCIP XI, DAR XI, DA XI, UP-Mindanao, Kapwa Upliftment Foundation and the Provincial Local Government Units. It is scheduled for review by the Regional Development Council XI on September 29, 2014. (Emil Clarito, NEDA XI).