RDC eyes holding of Peace Forum earlier than scheduled

DAVAO CITY, Feb. 04 (PIA)--- The Peace Forum of the Regional Development Council (RDC) XI may be held earlier than the planned schedule during the Peace Month in September this year.

National Economic Development Authority  (NEDA) XI Regional Director Ma. Lourdes Lim made the statement during the first RDC Press Briefing, following media queries  which related the Peace Forum with the fall of the 44 Special Action Force (SAF) police members in a gun-battle in Mamasapano, Maguindanao on Jan. 25.

Lim explained no relation of the planned Peace Forum of RDC XI with that incident saying Peace and Development occupies a priority space in  the RDC XI Updated Regional Development Plan particularly  the Chapter VIII.

On the same press briefing held at PIA XI Conference Room,  RDC XI Chairperson Rodolfo P. Del Rosario, governor of Davao del Norte said RDC XI had long been planning of holding a Peace Forum which he viewed as “very timely” to  be  undertaken in the light of the recent Mamasapano, Maguindanao incident.

The Peace Forum is a multi-sectoral event which will draw the participation of key parties to peace and development aimed not only at tackling safety and security concerns, but increasing awareness on the need for stakeholders to participate in peace and development efforts.

Meanwhile,  in reporting updates on Chapter VIII Peace and Development of the Updated Regional Development Plan,  Lim said the crime solution efficiency rate in 2014 was pegged at 49.2 percent surpassing the 37.8 percent target set by the Philippine National Police (PNP) XI.

Though PNP XI failed to meet the crime volume target in 2014, Lim revealed that it significantly went down to 65,949 recorded crimes   or lower by 18,071   than what was recorded in 2013.

The police office attributed the improvement in crime efficiency to intensified law enforcement operations and stricter implementation of local ordinances together with improvement in coordination with other government agencies and citizens, Lim said.   (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)