NEDA XI chief cites inclusive growth strategies

DAVAO CITY, Mar 11 (PIA) Top official of the National Economic and Development Authority 11 has cited the inclusive growth strategies geared towards reducing poverty in Davao Region.

Speaking to reporters during the roadshow of the Updated Regional Development Plan 2014-2016 conducted in the Provincial Capitol in Nabunturan, Compostela Valley, she said these programs include the conditional cash transfer, universal coverage of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, K + 12 basic education program, scholarship programs for the priority sectors aimed at improving the competencies of students consequently making them better employed and of world-class standard.

She explained that the CCT is an investment in human capital of the future generations while the universal coverage of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation aimed at addressing the basic health needs of the citizenry, especially the indigent members of the society.

“They will now be provided with free basic health services,” Lim said.

She said the basic education program given the improvements in the kindergarten, elementary and high school including tertiary education.

“There are a lot more scholarship programs being offered by government addressing specially the priority sectors.  We want to see more students enrolled in agriculture and fishery related courses, technical and vocational courses,” Lim said.

She stressed that K to 12 revolutionizes the education program, so that the graduates can be better employed and competitive.

Lim said that the plan of government on the medium-term is to provide minimum basic services to the people even they cannot participate in economic activities.

“Either way, whether you are recipient or participant of these economic activities, it is all part of our inclusive growth strategy,” she said.

Lim also said that the key drivers like tourism, mining, agri-business, knowledge-based industries like the information technology, these are all part of the inclusive growth strategies.

She also bared that Davao Region is the least poor region in Mindanao from 2009 to 2012, when the number of poor families had been reduced.  (PIA 11-Joey Sem G. Dalumpines)