Tuesday, February 21, 2006

2 Zamboanga airports expansion sought

THE Regional Development Council IX passed a total of 10 resolutions, including a request to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to consider the Dipolog and Pagadian airports' expansion or improvement for FY 2007, during their maiden meeting for this year held last February 9 at Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur.
After careful discussion and deliberation, the Council, being the highest policy-making institution in the region, came up with the 10 resolutions, including: the endorsing of the Regional Physical Framework Plan (RPFP) of the region to the National Land Use Committee (NLUC); endorsing of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Central Office the proposed repair or improvement of the Dipolog river irrigation system; approving the 2005 accomplishment report and endorsing the Work and Financial Program (WFP) for CY 2006 of the Regional Project Monitoring Committee of the region; endorsing the NEDA Regional Development Office (RDO) the proposed Project Development Training for LGUs, RLAs, SUCs and NGOs for funding under the Project Development Monitoring Fund (PDMF).
The Council is also endorsing the inclusion of calamansi as one of the emerging products of the region; strongly supports the leadership of Dr. Estrella F. Alabastro as Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST); urges the Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to reconsider the cancellation of community-based Forest Management Agreements and other related instruments in the region; requesting DPWH to fast track the conversion of the Provincial Road Network in Zamboanga del Sur and Zamboanga Sibugay from provincial road to secondary national road.
The Council also thanked Mayor Domingo Mirrar and the entire municipality of Lakewood, Zamboanga del Sur for hosting the 117th meeting of RDC IX.
The meeting was presided by Atty. Arsenio L. Gonzales, Jr., who was appointed co-chairman of the Council and Private Sector Representative of Zamboanga City, in lieu of Governor Yebes who was busy during President Arroyo's visit in Dapitan City.
Atty. Gonzales called for convergence among government agencies, local government units, non-government organizations, and stakeholders of development, to avoid overlapping of efforts and creation of gaps that would result to waste the meager resources.
"Let us have quality discussions to yield quality outputs in this RDC meeting", he said. (Press Release)

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