RDC XI posts positive economic outlook in 2015

DAVAO CITY,  Feb. 06 (PIA) --- The Regional Development Council (RDC) XI remains optimistic in its development outlook  for 2015, ensuring  sustained “economic  and inclusive growtth.

During the recent RDC XI press briefing, RDC vice chairperson Ma. Lourdes Lim  of the National  Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) XI stressed positive economic gains  in 2015 drawn from  the agriculture sector,  the  ASEAN Economic  (AEC) Integration, information and communication technology (ICT), tourism,  power generation, science and technology,  the government  infrastructure.

The NEDA XI Regional Director expected the agriculture sector to recover from slump in 2013 and once again contribute largely to employment, export trade and to the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) while  sustaining growth in production of  cereals,  banana, cacao, livestock, poultry, fishery and fruits.

In her report, Lim also highlighted export opportunities for coconut, cacao and oil palm citing the
trade talks between the Department of Agriculture (DA) and Sri Lanka for coconut product imports and the partnership between the Federation of Cooperatives and Singaporean firm for the supply of cacao beans.

Palm oil production is also seen to increase this year with 1,000 hectares opened for expansion of plantation areas particularly in Paquibato District in Davao City.

Production of high value crops such as coffee, cacao and rubber is  also expected to take an uptick as the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) targets to plant in 2015 such crops  in 35,528 hectares throughout the region.

Meanwhile, Lim revealed measures that RDC XI had undertaken to maximize the benefit  that AEC Integration can bring for the constituents of Davao Region.

Among these are the creation of the AEC Special Committee under the RDC XI, the implementation of the Davao Region Industry Cluster Roadmap with 17priority industries including the six priority industries promoted under the National Industry Cluster and Implementation of the Davao Region Development Research Agenda.

In line with AEC Integration,  the Davao Region  also has taken an effort to update the Human Resource Development Plan, create the Local Public-Private  Partnership Boards, update the PPP project portfolio in the Davao Region Investment Program, and establish a web-based inventory of Public Lands suitable for investments.

Along with the benefits of AEC Integration, the business process outsourcing (BPO) industry is also expected to thrive in Davao Region with Davao City as the “Next Wave” city or the top alternate destination   of BPO players.

Davao Region will also bustle  this year with tourists. With the major activities set  here, arrivals are  expected to groundswell  way beyond the 2-milion mark expected record for 2014.

Lim said the Department of Tourism (DOT) XI is rallying more tourists to come to Davao Region through its “Let’s Meet in Davao MICE Program”  with Davao City and the Davao Region as a prime destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE).

Along with the  “2015 Visit the Philippines Year” and the region’s “From Islands to Highlands” tourism tagline, three activities in Davao Region are bannered to entice more tourists. These are the  Visit Davao Fun Sale from April 3-May 15; Visit Samal Islands 2015 from March to May; and  the 7th International Boulder Face Challenge on April 25-26.

Lim also included the Palarong Pambansa in May 2015 to be hosted by Davao del Norte, as a major event to draw more visitors to Davao Region.

Despite the surge in business, economic and tourism activities, Lim reported adequate power supply for the Davao Region especially by the second half of the year, banking on the two major investments on coal-fire power plants of  Aboitiz and  San Miguel.

Lim also revealed significant developments in Science and Technology boosting the innovativeness and competitiveness of industries in the Davao Region.

Among these are the establishment of Halal Laboratory that augurs well with the ASEAN Economic Integration, the National Science Tour in March 2015, Regional Invention Contest and Expo 2015 in October, Health Research and Development Expo in July, and the Protect and Modernize the Philippine Banana Production (Promobanana) Project aimed at increasing the capacity to detect and manage banana disease.

Major infra projects in 2015 are among the factors of positive economic disposition of Davao Region.  Among these are the road upgrading projects, which includes the Montevista-Compostela Road, and the Davao –Sarangani Road.

Lim said that the national road upgrading projects for 2015 have a combined length of 121.9 kilometers while  the construction and improvement of 93 kilometres of access roads to airports, seaports, and tourist destinations are also scheduled to start also this year.   (NEDA XI/ PIA XI Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)