The Regional Development Updates (RDU) is the regular quarterly publication of RDC XII and NEDA XII containing development updates, news, reports and other relevant information on various activities of the Council, Local Government Units, Regional Line Agencies, State Universities and Colleges and Private Sector in the region.

1. RDC XII supports the
General Santos City -
Clark route opening
CAAP implement other components of GSC
airport improvement and rehabilitation

2. Editor-in-Chief
RD TERESITA SOCORRO C. RAMOS
Associate Editor
ARD NOEL E. QUIRATMAN
Contributing Editors
MA. LULU E. VALENCIA
MARIA FELICIDAD R. GUERRERO
GUILLERMO R. MANRIQUE, JR.
GWYNETH GRACE B. COLLADO
LALAINE M. SAJELAN
RDU Focal Persons
EDEN F. RIDAO
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
EVIE A. CABULANAN
MICHAEL BJ S. ABELLANA
JOSEPH DIDIUS L. CLAVE
MYRA L. SAJO
Photographer
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
Layout Artist
APOLLO Y. MANLAWE
Contributors
PIA XII
DOLE XII
PSA XII
EDITORIAL BOARD
The Regional Development Updates
(RDU) is published quarterly by the Regional
Development Council (RDC) XII with
editorial office at the National Economic and
Development Authority Regional Office XII,
PrimeRegionalGovernmentCenter,Carpenter
Hill, Koronadal City, South Cotabato,
with Telephone No.: (083) 228-9203,
Fax: (083) 228-9203. The Editorial Board
reserves the right to edit the manuscript for
reasons of space and clarity. RDU assumes no
responsibility on unpublished and unsolicited
materials.
HOW TO REACH US
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suggestions? Send your letters with complete
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mentioned above, or email us at nedaxii@
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CONTENTS
RDC XII confirms the newly elected
Sectoral Committee Officials
RDC XII supports the General Santos
City - Clark opening
South Cotabato and Sarangani:
Integration Sites for UHC Law in
SOCCSKSARGEN
On the cover is the 68th
meeting of
the Regional Development Council
(RDC) XII which was presided over
byActing Chairperson and NEDAXII
Regional Director Teresita Socorro
C. Ramos and the latest pictures on
the improvement and rehabilitation
of the General Santos City airport as
of November 2019.
33
CAAP implement other components
of GSC airport improvement and
rehabilitation
Volume 17 | Number 4 | November - December 2019
44
66
1010
2 | Regional Development Updates | November - December 2019
DILG XII with PCW conduct the 1st
Regional GAD Budget Forum for
Region XII LGUs
88
68th
RDC XII Resolutions passed
1111
DOLE XII turns over Php 22.4 million
livelihood and TUPAD checks to LCEs99

3. November - December 2019 | Regional Development Updates | 3
RDC XII supports the General Santos City – Clark
route opening
KORONADAL CITY, South
Cotabato – Regional Development
Council (RDC) XII passed
Resolution No. 113, series of 2019
supporting the opening of General
Santos City (GSC) – Clark air
route, during its 68th
Regular
Meeting on December 4, 2019 in
Koronadal City.
The action of the council further
supports the declaration of joint
intent to strengthen linkages
between GSC and Clark Freeport
Zone, which was signed by GSC
Mayor Ronnel C. Rivera and
Clark Development Corporation
(CDC) President and CEO Noel F.
Manankil on September 13, 2018.
By: Apollo Y. Manlawe, NEDA XII
The declaration promotes air
connectivity, organization of
trade, and business mission for
tourism and investments, among
others.
The GSC International airport,
with 3,227 meters runway is
servicing an average of nine
(9) flights daily, catering the
routes General Santos City to
Manila, Cebu, Iloilo and vice-
versa. The airport is located in an
almost 600 hectares land area in
Barangay Fatima, General Santos
City. Its terminal building can
accommodate around 500-800
passengers.
In Picture (L-R): Hon. Governor
Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr. of South
Cotabato; Acting RDC XII Chairperson
and NEDA XII Regional Director
Teresita Socorro C. Ramos, and; Hon.
Ronnel C. Rivera of General Santos
City during the 68th
Regular Meeting
of Regional Development Council on
December 4, 2019 in Koronadal City.
The meeting was presided over
by Acting RDC XII Chairperson
and Regional Director Teresita
Socorro C. Ramos and attended
by 33 members, including Mayor
Ronnel C. Rivera of General
Santos City.

4. 4 | Regional Development Updates | November - December 2019
RDC XII confirms the
newly elected Sectoral
Committee officials
By: Eden F. Ridao, NEDA XII
Koronadal City, South Cotabato
– The Regional Development
Council (RDC) XII, during its 68th
Regular Meeting on 04 December
2019, confirmed the newly elected
officials of the four (4) main
Sectoral Committees (SeComs)
under the umbrella of the Council.
RDC XII passed Resolution
No. 115, series of 2019, entitled
Confirming the Chairpersons
and Co-chairpersons of the
Four Sectoral Committees for
the term 2019-2022. Honorable
Ronnel C. Rivera, City Mayor
of General Santos City and the
former Chairperson of RDC XII,
administered the oath taking of
the newly confirmed RDC XII-
SeCom officials.
The elected Chairpersons
and Co-chairpersons of the
four Sectoral Committees
under the RDC XII, who were
selected, respectively, during
the Committee reorganizational
meetings in November 2019 are
the following: a) Infrastructure
and Utilities Development
Committee (InfraCom) XII –
Alfredo P. Hebrona, Jr., Private
Sector Representative (PSR) for
Infrastructure Sector and Land
Transportation Office (LTO) XII
Director Macario D. Gonzaga;
b) Economic Development
Committee (EDC) XII – Dr.
Rolando S. Doria, PSR for
Economic Sector and Department
of Science and Technology
(DOST) XII Officer-in-Charge
Mahmud L. Kingking; c)
Macro-Economy, Development
Administration and Finance
Committee (MEDAFC) XII –
Ronan Eugene C. Garcia, PSR
for Sultan Kudarat Province
and Tacurong City and Bureau
of Local Government Finance
(BLGF) XII Regional Director
Jeany T. Tedera; and d) Regional
Social Development Committee
(RSDC) XII – Richlie Lyndon
L. Magtulis, PSR for Sarangani
and Honorable Mayor Eliordo U.
Ogena of LGU-Koronadal City.
RD Teresita Socorro C. Ramos of
NEDA XII, Acting Chairperson
of RDC XII presided over the
meeting, pending the appointment
of the Office of the President
of the Chairperson and Co-
Chairperson for RDC XII from
among the nominees of the
Council.
The Council also confirmed eight
(8) special non-voting members
(SNVMs) during the meeting for
the term 2019-2022. They are
the following: Philippine Health
Insurance Corporation (PHIC)
XII, National Housing Authority
(NHA) XII, National Commission
on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)
XII, Commission on Population
and Development (POPCOM)
XII, National Nutrition Council
(NNC) XII, National Commission
on Muslim Filipinos (NCMF) XII,
National Commission on Culture
and Arts (NCCA) and Retired
Col. Celestino F. Desamito, Jr.
Except for Col. Desamito who
was endorsed to be a SNVM by
both the RSDC XII and EDC
XII, the rest of the confirmed
SNVMs were endorsed by RSDC
XII. Hon. Mayor Rivera also
administered the oath taking of
the said SNVMs.
The designation of SNVMs is
provided for under Section 3 of
Executive Order (EO) 325, series
of 1996 which specified that the
RDC, subject to the concurrence
of majority of its regular
members, may designate special
non-voting members SNVMs) of
the Council.
Other concerns tackled during the
68th RDC XII Regular Meeting
In Picture (L-R): Hon. Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr. of South Cotabato; Acting
RDC XII Chairperson and NEDA XII Regional Director Teresita Socorro C. Ramos,
and; Hon. Ronnel C. Rivera of General Santos City during the 68th Regular Meeting
of Regional Development Council on December 4, 2019 in Koronadal City.

5. November - December 2019 | Regional Development Updates | 5
In picture (L-R): Mayor Rivera administered the oath taking of
the of the newly confirmed SNVM who were present. In picture
(L-R): POPCOM RD Edwin Mateo Quijano; NCIP RD Jeanne
Anne Zoilo; NHA Regional Administrator Zenaida M. Cabiles,
and; Col. Celestino F. Desamito, Jr..
RDC XII SECTORAL COMMITTEE OFFICIALS
• Macro-Economy, Development Administration and Finance Committee (MEDAFC) XII
Chairperson : Ronan Eugene C. Garcia
PSR for Sultan Kudarat Province and Tacurong City
Co-Chairperson : Regional Director Jeany T. Tedera
Bureau of Local Government Finance (BLGF) XII
• Economic Development Committee (EDC) XII
Chairperson : Dr. Rolando S. Doria
PSR for Economic Sector
Co-Chairperson : Officer-in-Charge Engr. Mahmud L. Kingking
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) XII
• Infrastructure and Utilities Development Committee (InfraCom) XII
Chairperson : Alfredo P. Hebrona, Jr.
PSR for Infrastructure Sector
Co-Chairperson : Regional Director Macario D. Gonzaga
Land Transportation Office (LTO) XII
• Regional Social Development Committee (RSDC) XII
Chairperson : Richlie Lyndon L. Magtulis
PSR for Sarangani Province
Co-Chairperson : Honorable Mayor Eliordo U. Ogena
Local Government Unit - Koronadal City
include a Report on RDC XII
assistance to earthquake victims in
Cotabato Province, updated Fault
Line Map and earthquake-related
and volcanic hazards in Region
XII, updates on African Swine
Fever in Region XII, as well as
the reports of the four SeComs
on matters discussed in their
respective 4th
Quarter Committee
meetings and also that of the
Affiliate Committees of RDC XII
that need RDC XII action. The
Council passed a total of thirty-
five (35) resolutions and issued a
number of instructions to address
the various concerns raised during
the meeting.

6. 6 | Regional Development Updates | November - December 2019
CAAP implement other components of GSC
airport improvement and rehabilitation
Koronadal City, South Cotabato
- The Civil Aviation Authority
of the Philippines (CAAP) -
General Santos City implemented
other components of the project
to improve and rehabilitate the
General Santos City (GSC)
airport through the downloaded
funds from Department of
Transportations (DOTr)
amounting to PhP 531 M.
This amount included the
upgrading of navigational aids,
repair/Improvement of Control
Tower Complex, installation of
Precision Approach Lighting
System (PALS), repair/
improvement of control tower
complex, and construction of
administration building, sewage
treatment plant, and access road
and security.
The status of the project
implementation as of November
25, 2019 are as follows: a)
fabrication and installation of
navigational aid (VOR and
ILS) is 40% completed; repair/
Improvement of Control Tower
Complex is 98.3% accomplished;
Supply/Installation of Precision
Approach Lighting System
(PALS) is 80% accomplished;
construction of Sewage Treatment
Plant is 85% accomplished;
construction of powerhouse is
15% completed; construction of
administration building is 25%
accomplished; construction of
Access Road and Perimeter
Fence which is 11 km is 5%
accomplished.
CAAP spent a total of
Php336,047,746.67 on the works
mentioned above, including the
budget on the upgrading of airport
power supply system which the
opening of bids is scheduled on
December 11, 2019.
The improvement and
rehabilitation projects for
General Santos City airport
was implemented in CY 2017
funded by DOTr amounting to
PhP 959 Million. These projects
are comprised of the expansion
of apron, and construction of
drainage and storm drain and
expansion/rehabilitation of
Passenger Terminal Building
By: Apollo Y. Manlawe, NEDA XII
(PTB), and improvement of
other facilities like control
tower, administrative building
construction, power supply
upgrading, sewage treatment
plant construction, access road
and perimeter fence and fire sub-
station building construction.
As of October 25, 2019, the
expansion of Apron space and
construction of drainage and
storm drain is substantially
completed undertaken by
Premium Megastructures, Inc.
amounting to PhP 54,370,887.97.
While the rehabilitation and
expansion of PTB is 45.09%
complete with a negative slippage
Completed left wing sectionof the Apron
Expansion/renovation of Passenger Terminal Building.

7. November - December 2019 | Regional Development Updates | 7
of 8.65%, under contract with
VT Lao Construction JV with CB
Garay Construction amounting to
PhP 434,291,656.59. Corrective
works shall be undertaken by the
contractor, particularly on cracks
found in some segments of the
apron expansion.
Source: CAAP – General Santos
City
The on-going construction of Aerobridge
Structure.
An aerobridge (or PBB – Passenger
Boarding Bridge) is typically defined
as a suspended, moveable tunnel which
extends from an airport building to an
aircraft, enabling passengers to board
and disembark easily and efficiently.
The ongoing construction at the airside
of the airport.
The construction works at the second
floor of the Passenger Terminal Building.
Comfort rooms at the arrival area.

8. 8 | Regional Development Updates | November - December 2019
DILG XII with PCW conduct the 1st
Regional GAD
Budget Forum for Region XII LGUs
By: Danilo E. Doguiles, PIA XII
Koronadal City, South Cotabato
– More than a hundred men
and women Gender and
Development (GAD) advocates
from 54 provinces, cities, and
municipalities in Region XII
gathered during the 1st
Regional
GAD Budget Forum held on
28-29 November 2019 at the The
Farm@Carpenter Hill, Koronadal
City, South Cotabato.
In partnership with Philippine
Commission on Women (PCW)
represented by Executive
Director Maria Kristina Josefina
G. Balmes and two (2) GAD
specialists, the LGUs’ GAD
Focal Point-Technical Working
Group Systems (GFPS-TWGs)
composed of Social Welfare
Development Officers, Planning
Development Officers, and
Budget Officers were very
appreciative of the 2- day Forum,
which had been conducted for the
first- time in the Region. It was
an avenue for them to articulate
GAD- related clarifications,
misconceptions, and difficulties,
specifically, on GAD Plan and
Budget (GPB) formulation and
utilization of local GAD fund.
Notably, the five (5) brilliant
and expert Resource Speakers/
Panelists from Department
of Budget and Management
(DBM) XII Regional Director
(RD) Akmad J. Usman, CPA,
CESO III; Commission on
Audit (COA) XII State Auditors
Romeo C. Nunez, CPA and Arjay
t. Astillero, CPA; Commission
on Human Rights (CHR)
Special Investigator II Riza
Isnani Concha; and Philippine
Commission on Women (PCW)
Supervising GAD Specialist
Jeanette Kindipan- Dulawan were
very generous in sharing their
valuable LGU-based experiences,
common observations, and audit
findings, as well as their extensive
knowledge pertinent to achieving
gender responsive LGUs as one of
the ultimate goals of Republic Act
9710 or known as “Magna Carta
of Women.”
As Gender Ombud, CHR XII
Isnani stressed out that non-
compliance of GAD mandates
shall make LGUs civilly and
administratively liable. DBM XII
RD Usman thus recommended,
as supported by the plenary, to
conduct GAD Executive Session
for Local Chief Executives and
local legislators, another round
of similar forum, and more GAD
capacity development trainings
for LGUs including barangays.
These continuing capacity
development activities would
ensure GAD budget of LGUs be
spent judiciously with highest
level of prudence for the best
welfare of their people.
During the finale, DILG XII RD

9. November - December 2019 | Regional Development Updates | 9
DOLE XII turns over Php 22.4 million livelihood
and TUPAD checks to LCEs
By: Christopher D. Gamboa, DOLE XII
Koronadal City- The Department
of Labor and Employment
(DOLE) XII facilitated the
release of livelihood and
Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa
Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged
(TUPAD) checks amounting to a
total of Php 22,464,446.02 to the
different Local Chief Executives
(LCEs) and barangay officials
on 27 November 2019 at EMR
Convention Center, Koronadal
City.
The said turn-over served as the
highlight of the LCEs Orientation
on Public Employment Service
Office (PESO) programs.
The South Cotabato Province
received Php 6,737,811.00 for
370 beneficiaries, Cotabato
Province Php 4,843,630.00 for
294 beneficiaries, Sarangani
Province Php 2,636,396 for 157
beneficiaries, and Sultan Kudarat
Province with Php 3, 971,615.02
for 279 livelihood beneficiaries
and Php 4,275,000.00 for TUPAD.
Prior to the release of the
livelihood checks, LCEs and
barangay officials were oriented
on the PESO Act of 1999 and
PESO Institutionalization,
DILEEP and TUPAD, and the
Government Internship Program.
“We conduct this orientation to
ensure that our partners especially
our LCEs are also aware and
informed of the basic guidelines
and eligibility requirements in
the implementation of DOLE
programs and services,” said
Regional Director Sisinio Cano.
PESO is a non-fee charging multi-
employment service facility or
entity established or accredited
pursuant to Republic Act No.
8759 otherwise known as PESO
Act of 1999. PESOs are linked
to the regional offices of DOLE
for coordination and supervision,
and to the DOLE central office,
to constitute the national
employment service network.
Josephine Cabrido- Leysa, CESO
V, was impressed and visibly
delighted with the huge turn-
out, which is a manifestation of
Region XII LGUs’ eagerness to
be capacitated further on GAD.
RD Leysa, as the concurrent
Chairperson of the Regional
GAD Committee (RGADC) XII
for July 2019- August 2021, was
challenged and gladly announced
her unwavering support for
more GAD CAPDEV activities
for LGUs and Regional Line
Agencies in the years to come.
Kidapawan City Vice Mayor Joe Roe Bombeo receives the 3.7 M livelihood check from OIC-Regional Director Arlene Bisnon.

10. 10 | Regional Development Updates | November - December 2019
South Cotabato and Sarangani:
Integration Sites for UHC Law in
SOCCSKSARGEN
By: Evie A. Cabulanan, NEDA XII
membership, pooling of funds,
crafting of national Human
Resource for Health Master
Plan, regulating coverage for
co-payment, transparent pricing,
setting standards, licensing and
registries, health promotion,
data management and health
technology assessment.
The implementation of the
identified reforms shall ensure
equitable access to quality
and affordable health care and
protection against financial
risk. This is through automatic
inclusion into the National
Health Insurance Program,
immediate eligibility and access
to comprehensive outpatient care
benefit, and wide range of health
care packages.
The paradigm shift presented
under the UHC, from traditional
disease management to disease
prevention and health promotion,
is geared towards accelerating
human capital development, one
of the strategies enunciated in the
Philippine Development Plan,
2017-2022.
In support of the UHC Act, RDC
XII passed Resolution No. 16,
series of 2019 during its 65th
Regular Meeting on March 20,
2019 enjoining the provinces/
highly urbanized or component
cities in Region XII to establish
their respective HCPNs.
All integration sites shall
document their experiences and
lessons generated in the course
of implementing the law to serve
as basis for the development of
national policies on the integration
of local health systems to attain
Universal Health Coverage in the
Philippine setting.
Approaches and mechanism to
achieve the UHC target shall
be supported by the DOH and
the Philippine Health Insurance
Corporation (PHIC) through the
following: a) technical integration
– an on-going activity; b)
managerial integration targeted by
2022; and, c) financial integration
by 2025.
UHC reforms shall cover
eliminating redundancies,
simplifying PhilHealth
KORONADAL CITY, South
Cotabato, – The provinces of
South Cotabato and Sarangani in
SOCCSKSARGEN were among
the 33 pilot areas or integration
sites in the whole country for the
implementation of Republic Act
11223 or Universal Health Care
(UHC) Act. This was shared
by Dr. Aristides Concepcion
Tan, Regional Director of the
Department of Health (DOH) XII
as he presented the salient points
of the UHC Implementing Rules
and Regulations (IRR) during
the 4th Quarter Meeting of the
Regional Social Development
Committee (RSDC) XII in
Koronadal City.
The provinces identified as
UHC integration sites are urged
to establish their Health Care
Provider Network (HCPN)
to facilitate the provision of
equitable comprehensive,
integrated and continuous good
quality health services to a defined
population. The law provides that
the Provincial Health Board shall
act as the governance body of
HCPN as part of their expanded
function.

11. Regional Development Council XII
Resolutions Passed
68th
Regular Meeting, 04 December 2019
Koronadal City
October - November 2019 | Regional Development Updates | 11

12. 12 | Regional Development Updates | November - December 2019